Harmonic minor and major

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Giving variety to the musical sound is achieved in a large number of ways. Today we will analyze one of the most important - varieties of the major and minor series, in particular the harmonic minor and major. Let's start with the characteristics.

What is the harmonic minor?

One of the types of scale related to the minor scale. This is the definition of the concept in the sub title. Its difference from natural sounding is an increase in the 7th step. The reason for this is the presence of an imitation of the leading tone, which is characteristic only for natural major.

The harmonic minor is considered the most common type of the series of the same name in both classical and pop and popular music. In ascending order, its scale is built as follows: T - PT - T - T - PT - one and a half tone - PT.

Thus, it is precisely that augmented second (in other words, one and a half steps), which is noticeable between the sixth and seventh steps, that gives the harmonic minor a specific color. From here, there is an interesting trend. In classical musical works of the 18th - early 20th centuries, which were created in a minor key, the transition of the melodic move to a one and a half tone is avoided. The exception will be those compositions thatthe author strives to give an oriental (eastern) flavor, a sound in the spirit of the "Russian East". Such a move for an increased second is more correctly called modalism.

Existing Keys of Minor

Let's see what keys you can see the harmonic minor in:

• A minor.
• E minor.
• B-minor harmonic: the appearance of A-sharp.
• F-sharp: raising the seventh step when ascending.
• C-sharp: C-sharp is added for harmonic form.
• F minor: the sound is characterized by a rise in E-bekar.
• C minor: rising B-backer with harmonic sound.
• G minor: F-sharp is exhibited in this form.
• D minor harmonic is a rise to C-sharp.

Harmonic major

A harmonic major is a variety of the scale of the same name. Its main distinguishing feature is a lowered VI stage. This is what distinguishes the harmonic variety from the natural one.

Let's look at the harmony of the harmonic major in the ascending trend: T - T - PT - T - PT - one and a half steps - PT. The sixth reduced step here has one feature: it helps to build intervals that will be identical to the minor. As an example: an incremental second on this step.

Thus, we can say that the specific coloring of the harmonic major is the same oriental coloring. Gives it a second between the sixth and seventh degree, which is increased.

Howmaybe a minor?

Initially, the sound was represented by only one natural minor. But over time, new "colors" were added to the fret in order to diversify it. This is how the harmonic and melodic minor appeared. Consider two species not presented by us.

Natural. This is the name of a simple gamma, as it is, without adding random signs and taking into account only the key ones. When moving up and down, the scale is the same. Overall: Simple, sad, austere sound without unnecessary details.

Melodic. Its difference is that when moving up, two steps immediately become higher - the sixth and seventh, and when moving downward, in the opposite direction, they are canceled. That is, in the latter case, the performer plays or sings in an almost natural minor key. An increase in the sixth step is necessary here to cover the increased interval. It is characteristic of the harmonic variety. This is necessary because the minor is melodic, and in the melody the step for an increased second is prohibited.

Increasing the VI, VII steps gives a directed, but at the same time softened movement towards the tonic. I also wonder why this alteration is canceled when moving down? The simplest explanation is that raising the sixth and seventh steps adds some cheerfulness to the melody. But given that the minor is still being played, the repetition of such a frivolous note will already be superfluous.

What could be a major?

Just like minor, major can be natural, melodic and harmonic. Considerits unrepresented varieties.

Natural. This includes an ordinary gamma with key signs, if necessary. There are no random accidentals in natural major. This is the most common form of the whole trio in musical works.

The sequence of tones of the scale here is observed as follows: T - T - PT - T - T - T - PT.

Melodic. As you remember, in the melodic minor, two steps were raised - the 6th and 7th. In major, they do not increase, but, on the contrary, decrease. And the VI and VII steps change already during the downward movement. That is, the rules for the melodic minor are exactly the opposite. This makes it easy to remember their differences and commonalities.

An interesting feature here is this: due to the lowering of the sixth step, both increased and decreased intervals are formed between sounds - characteristic tritones. But in general, with an upward movement, a natural major is played here, and with a downward movement, the sixth and seventh steps go down.

Parallel keys

Two types of keys (major and minor) are considered parallel if they have the same accidentals at the key. Examples of this phenomenon:

• A minor and C major. The parallelism is that they do not have any signs with the key.
• E minor and G major. Such keys have F-sharp key.

If you're looking for a key parallel to major, then remember one fact. The tonic of the minor parallel to it will be lower by a minor third.

Note that melodic and harmonicmajors, all accidentals are random. For example, in the harmonic E minor they are not taken out to the key, but are noted, where necessary, in the work itself.

So we have analyzed two harmonic types of the scale - major and minor. The first is characterized by an increased seventh step, the second - a reduced sixth. When listening to the game, performance, we will notice that such keys stand out from the background of others with their orientation, oriental style, which gives classical music a certain zest, originality of sound. In addition to harmonic, minor and major are characterized by a natural and melodic variety, which we also touched upon in this material.