Harmonic Major Scale: Unlocking Its Secrets

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The Harmonic Major Scale you might be familiar with if you know the works of George Russell (The Lydian Chromatic Concept) or Allan Holdsworth because they both made frequent use of it in their compositions and improvisations. This is a great scale and set of modes to for you to explore.
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[@YoussefRbahi]

Videos where you use the white board are my favorite. They are much easier to follow and usually are about general music theory and not something instrument related.

[@ryanpeters4362]

I agree

[@matthewlaming4379]

I agree too. Easier to visualize.

[@numanuma20]

Agree

[@joshuabholan2693]

yes so happy to learn

[@eXpas04]

Si

[@pierremarcotte6299]

Me: throws a guitar down a flight of stairs and farts in a trombone. Rick: Here we have a #4 to phrygian suspended 6 substitution modal interflat progression. Some people call it the Cobain chords.

[@hamzailarzeg]

lmao

[@livingpiano]

the harmonic major is an ancient indian mode ( raga) extensively used to express devotion

[@SharathMurali]

Yep. Sarasangi in Carnatic music. Beautiful scale

[@aymericmarchand3472]

Always liked this scale! Learnt it as a melodic minor mode or "Ravel's favourite" this video connects so many pieces of my music theory puzzle! That seals the deal for me, I'm buying your book now!

[@StefanoPapaleo-TS]

Simply the most thorough, fun and prepared music teacher on KZbin. Rick's the man!

[@henrikibsen6258]

The fact that your free content is so generous is the reason I will buy your book. So glad I've discovered your stuff.

[@cajuncrackerranch7990]

Thank you Rick. Watching this video and your fingers are exactly how mine are spread across the keys... I have written many songs and have zero music training. It is all by ear. Every time I have tried to lean how to read or write music it is like I have been escorted into and ancient cave with someone pointing at hieroglyphs and mutter the sound ugh! I appreciate you taking the time to produce your content. You are an amazing teacher.

[@alger3041]

Rick, this scale is the natural antipode to the harmonic minor scale which generations of composers have taken for granted. But what absorbs me as a composer with this scale is that in a major key context, the minor or flat sixth of the scale is virtually the only accidental that does not in any way disrupt the tonic or home feeling of the scale - it seems to naturally belong. True, one could say the same in a sense of the minor third in the major scale, even though that changes the key from major to minor but does not alter the tonic. The reason that these are not disruptive and not really accidentals is that both represent consonant intervals from the tonic, and thus do not demand resolution, as would be the case with seconds and sevenths, or with tritones, which are in a class by themselves. I believe it was Rimsky-Korsakov in his manual on harmony (correct me if I'm wrong) who first pointed out the individual viability of the harmonic major scale as an entity, and this shows in many of his own works.

[@GogiRegion]

Oh my gosh. I definitely am using that write all the modes out to figure out advanced harmony. Thank you so much.

[@timothyritchie5290]

aww no example composition! i love those Rick they really give the flavour of the concept. please can we have one for this scale.

[@RickBeato]

Timothy Ritchie you know I started with one but I always do that so I decided not to to be different today :)

[@AidanMmusic96]

Timothy Ritchie The ultimate Allan Holdsworth example which he gives (under the melodic minor #4 guise) is his Letters of Marque :)

[@dwightdwindley3141]

I still listen to the lydian #2 piece all the time haha

[@frazzleface753]

Check out George Russell's work. I like the later stuff with the Living Time Orchestra.

[@TitoSilversax]

Dwight Dwindley I listen to it daily ! Esp for the composition at the end!

[@gilregev4823]

Lyd b3 was mentioned at 7":11 minutes. it could be refferd as a two chords combined together: im(maj7) & II if we ommit the 7 and stay with 1 2 b3 #4 5 6 , we get a Eric Satie scale

[@McALLAN1983]

this is the best theory lesson i've seen so far on KZbin. Blew my mind. thank you so much for this colossus inspiration! this is now priority #1. fascinating! be well friend.

[@paulmitchell5349]

White board explanation of scales modes and chords much appreciated. 5 minutes of condensed knowledge at the start.

[@duncanjones7310]

Thanks Rick. I really love the sound of a minmaj13 moving down a minor 3rd while holding a pedal at the top. Try for yourself while holding an Eb at the top: Cminmaj13 Aminmaj13 Gbminmaj13 Ebminmaj13 The Aminmaj13 with the Eb(D#) makes a breathtaking sound. Lydian b3 is so fucking good. Love the videos man.

[@wjpipkin]

how about a youtube series on the Lydian Chromatic Concept?

[@raysaade]

I've been following this channel for about a month or so now, I can't get enough of it! Amazing explanation Rick!

[@williansuarez9522]

There's also E phrygian and E phrygian 7 (dom) in C harmonic Major

[@RickBeato]

Willian Suarez SOB! The smartest musicians follow this channel!! You guys never miss anything :) Thanks William!

[@williansuarez9522]

Thank you for your insightful videos!

[@drewserafini1237]

@@RickBeato There might be even more triads if you keep digging. For example: 1) C, D, G (1, 2, 5). Wouldn't this be considered a sus2 triad? You could also construct one starting on F: F, G, C 2) Ab, C, D (1, 3, b5) I'd call this Lydian Major, since you consider a Lydian triad to be 1, #4, 5. 3) B, C, F (1, b2, b5) This is not a Locrian triad, which is 1, 4, b5. Maybe this is a bit of a stretch, but I'd call this one Locrian sus2. I'd be curious to know exactly what the parameters are for what can be considered "triads," because from what I've learned from you, a triad need not just be 1, 3, 5 but a wide variety of different combinations. It seems as if there are even more out there than you mentioned in the video, even though I could be wrong. Maybe it's time for me to crack either The Beato Book or Russell's Lydian Chromatic concept cause this stuff is new to me and it's blowing my mind wide open.

[@mentalitydesignvideo]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tie this with the Barry Harris "diminished 6" concept, I'm sure this will result in a clear and well-structured concept.

[@ArgoBeats]

+1!

[@colecorbett255]

different scales tho

[@stevenroumeliote5134]

This is one of your most informative videos on these modes and deserves way more views!

[@frazzleface753]

Thank you for keeping George Russell's work alive.

[@lukiaffe]

Ive made a piece for accordion and 2 marimbas, and I didint know what scale I was using. Now I know it was the hamonic major scale! Thanks! It really is an awesome scale

[@picksalot1]

This video really helped me understand how chords are derived from modes and how they relate to each other. Packed to the brim with great information! The overhead camera angle was also very useful.

[@JariSatta]

E Phrygian b4 Mode plays well over your E7#5#9 chord too. E is the root Ab is enharmonic w/ G# which is a major third above E D is your 7th C is the #5 and G is the #9

[@r54070]

Really enjoying your channel Rick. I'm a couple of weeks from turning 60. Taught myself to play the guitar in the early 70's. In the late 80's and 90's other things took precedence and I didn't touch the guitar for about 15 years. Got the bug and took some lessons from 2002 to 2008. I know more after those lessons than I knew way back when. But these lessons are phenomenal. The theory is great...kinda makes my head spin...but really good stuff. Also enjoy your "how/what to practice" videos as well. Very helpful. Keep up the good work.

[@michaelwerner1539]

I don't understand how this video doesn't have more views. This is super helpful but only 2,000

[@michaelwerner1539]

I wish I could! But, I'm sorta a "lone ranger" I'm basically the only one of my friends who really cares about music. This community is my music friends lol

[@kenkarsh]

Wonderful and informative. I can’t wait to check this out! Thank you, Rick!

[@venceremosallende9460]

Sounds very experimental to my ears, but i leve thumbs up, you are a great teacher

[@PinoMusicCR]

Dear Rick, a million thanks for your kindness sharing your knowledge. Kind regards from Costa Rica, un abrazo

[@MichaelUhler]

Miles Davis Aura composed by Palle Mikkelborg. The Aura chord/MILESDAVIS melody is a harmonic major scale.

[@davidsummerville351]

The dominant 7 flat 9 having it's own mode is very cool. Will be jumping into this stuff tonight! Thanks

[@robbru3112]

I've been waiting for this one

[@Ganther100]

Hi Rick, thank you so much for sharing this one! You answered my request! I was so very delighted to see this one as I have recently diagramed this scale through Jon Damian's 3 note Pallette!

[@Ganther100]

I hope you bring your Master Class out west soon! I'm thinking that you may already be close to the finish line on these scale videos. I find that they are the best part of your gift to the world!

[@ToastedCigar]

One of my favorite scales. I love the spicy b6

[@pranjal1800]

Harmonic major is called Raag Nat Bhairav in indian classical music. A beautiful and devotional scale

[@simonrainer]

Wow the E-/F- spread triad sounds just amazing!!

[@salvodipiazza88]

for several reasons I prefer to call the following modes this way: II Mode = Locrian #2 #6 -> chord = Xm7b5 III mode = Mixolydian b2, #2, b6 -> chord = X7alt IV mode Melodic Minor #4 -> chord = mMaj7 I relate the name of the modes with the chord species, therefore Locrian makes me think to a halfdiminished chord... If I call the II mode "dorian.." I would think to it as a mode related to a m7 ...which is not since the flat 5th...so it's quicker for me to think it as a Locrian #2 #6... Same applies to the III and IV modes

[@axed1176]

this is one of the best viedo available on internet , God bless you

[@crimfan]

I wrote a jazz head in harmonic major based on the change D7b9 to Gmaj7 I called "All Sunshine and Smiles", which is a quote from The Simpsons when a German company takes over the power plant and fires Homer.

[@derangedQuiver]

Okay.... so....

[@thetrombonehub6254]

Great Structure, Rick! Thank You! 🙏

[@anandkamate2308]

Ric sir, It's most exciting to learn the theory from you keep teaching us we always remain greatful thanks !

[@varunsathya696]

Have you ever heard of typing normally? Unlike This

[@newtonlkh]

When I was first taught about 4m I was taught to use the parallel minor scale (of the key) over it, but when I found people using scale note 3 on a 4m chord, (effectively makeing the chord 4mMaj7) I came up with this scale. Never really thought it as a seperate scale, but more like " just flatten the b6 of the major scale just to satisfy the need of 4m chord" And then same goes for 57b9 chord ( 5 7 2 4 b6) in a major scale. And my relationship with this scale just stopped here. After watching this video, I think I really need to experiment / listen / transcibe much more to see how the other modes / chords of the scale could be used pratically.

[@RoyBatty1986]

i didn´t knew i could figure out chords like that, i`m as dumb as a rock, thank you Rick, you bring light to my life. Blessings.

[@kerryhall]

Absolutely amazing video. I learned not just a huge amount about harmonic major, but also about new types of chords (locrian and phrygian chords!) and some incredible sounding voicings. Can you do more videos like this? Maybe for some exotic scales, such as ultralocrian or aeolorian? Cheers!

[@MetalVideoGamer]

Wow, i was doing this scale 10 years ago (when i started to learn music (knowing nothing haha)). i was trying to play the egyptian style of music ( harmonic minor) by memory. It fun to know it have a name.

[@dividenperro]

amazing concept to explore. thx man

[@mazely]

Sensational! Already full of ideas for cinematic composition using HMS.

[@GaZonk100]

yes, Rick! - I'd never heard of til an oblique reference on a blog...

[@silviomp]

Rick, what a valuable lesson! Thank you so much!! So well explained and so good examples! God bless you!!

[@TomGoldsmithguitar]

welll said mate

[@josegallegos1067]

Dear Rick Happy New Year 2020. Thank you for sharing this tremendous info. Best

[@EverydayBassdotcom]

I’m really enjoying your channel. Thanks!

[@clearlight808]

HA! I JUST made a video about the same subject. I mention you in it because you didn't mention it in your "scales every professional musician should know". great vid as always!

[@jfk2205]

You are THE MAN. Thank you so much for sharing all of this! Amazing...

[@jonathanalcover1539]

this channel is life saving

[@ShaquanTalbert]

Learned some new scales. Time to go make some weird music. I've been experimenting with quarter tones as well. Your videos are great for expanding my high school music theory knowledge. I really appreciate it.

[@joelroberts1581]

Quadruple like Rick. Thank you, you are filling the gaps in my university education.

[@bobbyjamesramsey4860]

Cool! I didn't know that's what it was called, but I've loved that scale for years! I find myself flattening the two a lot lately though. Thanks.

[@83viraj]

Awesome 👏🏻 Thank you so much Mr. rick beato... 🙏🏻

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

Great video Rick!

[@AnthonyGeemusician]

A triangle is the shorthand for major chords a + is the shothand for augmented chords

[@patricklee2606]

Rick - you are the absolute best.

[@haikoheinz7359]

Love your channel, that´s really deep and informative stuff, thanx for that! I recently did a video of how to use Harmonic Major over diminished chords an the minor subdominant, it´s such a versatile scale und unjustifiedly forgotten!

[@n8dawg85]

I discovered this scale by accident while practicing and it’s become one of my favourite sounds. Now here I am trying to understand how to use it better 😂

[@gkgyver]

So, what I'm getting from all the mode videos is: you can take any scale and build modes off its 7 notes.

[@BigHairyGuitars]

That's so funny. This weekend I was practicing and was wondering why there wasn't a name for the "Ionian b6 scale". There you go! Harmonic Major! Thanks!

[@askyles91]

Your the man Rick! Keep up the great work

[@RickBeato]

+Alex Skyles Thanks Alex!

[@isaacjacobo8912]

really nice video. thank you so much

[@goldsmithstrings6842]

I always say it has a ''chunk'' of phrygian dominant in it.

[@ruthandthekernel8077]

I first thought Klezmer, but then with the diatonic HM chords I’m thinking composition, for example try to write a moody depressing song in a Major key HM is a good choice. Or reharmonizing a song. So many thing to play with and I only just got started. Thank you Rick.

[@rodgermyles2871]

Is there a video which explains the naming of chords by their modal aspect e.g. Clyd#5? Thanks.

[@Bmont1491]

Will your whiteboarding video include the hack to make the notes sound when pointed at? Lol love this channel so much can't wait to buy your book 2.0!!!

[@generuffalo4374]

I Like the mixolydian mode built off of this. Try simply cycling Fmin/Ab - Gmaj for a middle eastern movie score sound thing

[@cinthyaangelina3765]

now i know about the music theory. thankyou rick!

[@roboticskills1508]

Cool scale, but it would be awesome if you did the hexatonic scales like the prometheus scale or the tritone hexatonic scale.

[@max-fj7np]

Messing around with these a little bit, the modes with the augmented 2nd more towards the middle almost sound like Frankenstein scales to me. Sounds like 2 halves of completely different scales stitched together. Lydian b3 sounds especially strange to me.

[@juanmaidana8185]

Rick, you're the man

[@sagarkapoor9892]

great video Rick!! can you do a video on major and minor block chords? if you haven't done it already...I couldn't find it in your videos..thanks!!

[@BoredomEnsues]

Ah, I call it the "Big Hollywood Love Theme" mode because it was always used to score love or passion in film. It's a shame it's not used more as it's a beautiful scale with almost endless possibilities.

[@roblosh8417]

That’s my favorite thing about it too dude. That’s how I’m wanting to use it

[@numanuma20]

Great video. Now I have to read the Beato Book. Too advanced for me.

[@truthseeker057]

I wish you had used this approach for the Hungarian Minor scale and modes!

[@myingratealbinochild4825]

i like the way you teach.

[@davidlgomes7120]

Thanks for the lesson

[@chloekerr-stein6891]

If one look at negative harmony for ex c lydian flat 3 which has the root of g with a flat 3 ascending and d flat loc desending a tritone realtion as far as roots go it complex if u simlpy it by looking at tetar chords cd eb F# up is 123 #4 down from the same root is 1 b7 6 b5 down now we have the same roots in mind in both directions that i can keep in mind. to think the other way would need more pactice in double thinking in 2 keys s

[@Grapho137]

Isn't the phrygianb4 mode a dominant chord with a #9 and b9?

[@mikemccartneyable]

Great technique of teaching

[@DarioRamosMaldonado]

Gran escala mayor! MUY interesante.

[@matthewlaming4379]

When you work out a scale, 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 etc, are those just relative to the major scale?

[@RickBeato]

Yes!

[@matthewlaming4379]

Ok that makes a lot of sense. Thankyou! (i'm still a beginner)

[@robpallot5058]

Awesome video! Quick question - what is the locrian chord / triad? I've never heard this term before. It seems to be 1, 4, b5 - but how is it derived?

[@mitchellmartinez4638]

I have Gmaj as a "flat VI" chord, Going to the Bminor " i " chord. Ending the section of music. Is this a cadence? If not, can it effect writing a better melody?

[@SeanLeonDrumz]

Amazing information, Thank you!

[@RobertCharlesMann]

so cool. thanks rick.

[@francescomanfredi]

Great tutorial Rick, do you have a video explaining how you harmonize scales in general? I usually harmonize in thirds, so it is a bit unusual to see you using suspended triads and other stuff, thanks

[@RickBeato]

+Francesco Manfredi I have about 30 videos where I talk about harmonizing scales if you go to my scales and modes playlist. Thanks!

[@modalmixture]

The traditional definition of a triad is a trichord with two thirds (in root position), but Rick seems to use a more general definition... something like, a trichord containing the characteristic notes of a scale. So for example he has a sus triad (1-4-5), a lydian triad (1-#4-5), an aeolian triad (1-b3-b6) and sometimes he'll throw a fourth note in, like 1-2-#4-5 for a Lydian chord.

[@josephbrandenburg4373]

I'd always wondered what he meant with Lydian chords. I figured it was an added tone, like maj + #4

[@francescomanfredi]

modalmixture thank you so much! You gained a new subscriber :)

[@jazzerson7087]

Learn all the types of triads, lydian, locrian, phrygian, sus 4 and sus 2 as well as the others. Here's an idea. Harmonizing part of a descending G mixolydian flat 2 scale starting from the 5th (D, C, B, A flat, G). Check out these chords: A flat dim and then F minor/G phrygian, E major/F lydian, C aug/D flat aug to E minor/F minor (2nd inversions)!! Sooo dark! All found in C harmonic major except D flat aug.

[@kindnick58]

thanks Rick!

[@cjklz]

i wonder where it ends. There has to be a point where all the possibility's r explored or am i mistaking? Thanks for opening our minds ones more.

[@RickBeato]

+peter four We're not even close! We haven't even talked about any counterpoint, orchestration, demonstration videos of all the instruments in the orchestra and on and on. We are just scratching the surface.

[@RickBeato]

+Rick Beato i've done around 300 videos when we hit 3000 we will be close :)

[@user-zw7oe4jv3j]

Does the Beato Book touch on these subjects? Now you got me curious :)

[@account3935]

For the longest time I thought harmonic major was the third mode of harmonic minor.

[@youssefkardo]

You're the best from Libya 😍

[@futurebeats898]

Hey rick ! thanks for the video ! VIDEO IDEA : do you have any tips for making pop music in a more dissonant scale ? (forget major,minor and harmonic minor) but keeping them accessible to the masses. THANKS !

[@mosesramirez6330]

Awesome idea. St. Vincent/Annie Clark is really good at this, I think. Polyethene Pet (+1) also have really catchy, dissonant stuff.

[@augusto7681]

Bjork use a lot of modes..."Vertebrae by vertebrae" and "Army of me" are very dissonant, "An echo a stain" is in dimished scale. But I dont have sure how accessible she is to the masses. My tip for the music be appeling is use repetition and have a good rythm pattern.The regular listner of music tend to pay more attention to the drums than to the harmony.

[@dxaminal777]

Just gotta say, I am totally pissed at the public education system. How did I live all of my 35 and not know about this scale, at all, until last year. STILL trying to incorporate it into my playing.

[@joshuabholan2693]

you help me alot... ❤❤❤✌

[@tjmendillo]

Why are chordscale options for improvising over certain chord types pulled from different re-ordered versions of harmonic major? I'm looking at this very holistically, but why does it just happen to be that all the options for note collections to play over all types of chords are just modes of the harmonic minor, major, and melodic minor scales? I don't see what makes the modes of melodic minor and harmonic minor scales important from holistic point of view? Is it just that these scales happen to have all types of chords within them when building in thirds, and the different scales just give you different passing tones to put in between them? HOPE someone can give me insight

[@TheHijim]

Hello rick thank u for all the good stuff ...mi question is wich note is the important in each mode?