Harmonic Minor Scale and Phrygian Dominant Mode

One of the most popular scales in the metal genre is the Harmonic Minor Scale but a common misconception is that this scale is used purley from its root note. However, it is more likely that you will find that most chordal backings for this scale centre around its 5th degree. This shift in the tonal centre results in it becoming a mode of the Harmonic Minor and this is known as the Phrygian Dominant Mode.

Let's look at the notes in an A Natural Minor Scale:

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1

A B C D E F G A

Now look at a A Harmonic Minor Scale:

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 1

A B C D E F G# A

You will notice that the scale follows the standard pattern of a Natural Minor but the 7th degree is raised by a semitone. So we can deduce that the Harmonic Minor is in fact like a Natual Minor scale but with a major 7th interval from its root to its 7th degree.

As stated previously, however, this scale is more commonly heard as a modal interpretation by starting the scale from its 5th degree. Therefore E Phrygian Dominant Mode would look like this:

1 b2 3 4 5 b6 b7 1

E F G# A B C D E

Generally, this occurs when the backing track switches to the the dominant chord. For instance the 5th chord in the key of A Minor is E minor. If we make this an E major then the chord will give us the necessary G# note we require to play the Harmonic Minor Scale over the progression. If you want to try it at home then lay down a backing track over an E pedal tone and play the chords of E5, F5 and D5 over the top of it. It does'nt matter that they are only power chords as your soloing will do the rest! Make sure the progression is centred around the E5 chord and then widdle over the top of it with the A harmonic Minor. Firstly you will notice that you sound like Malmsteen and secondly you will actually be playing in the E Phrygian Dominant mode due to your chordal selection.

If you want to hear some examples of this mode in use then a seminal selection is the Scorpions song Sails of Charon from their 1977 album Taken By Force. This song is a Phrygian Dominant metldown and a certain Uli Jon Roth lays down the template for many future metal solos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPe3CJJmPz0

Then of course there is always Mr Malmsteen. It's very hard to select a specific song from his catalogue as he uses it on 80% of his solo's but a good starting place is the track Krakatau off his 1988 album Odyssey. This isn't premium rate Malmsteen but it is uses the Phrygian Dominant all the way through and illustrates the tonal qualites of the scale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80nethXkIJY

I hope you have enjoyed this little trip into the realms of the exotic. Next time we will look at going even more middle eastern with the Hungarian Minor Scale and its parent mode the Arabic Scale.