Non-diatonic Scale Patterns
I do not assume any responsibility for frustration, injury or death resulting from the application of these exercises.
The intro to the page on diatonic scales applies equally here. The difference is that this article contains scale patterns for non-diatonic scales, i.e. scales that interrupt the sequence of whole and half steps described under scale theory. These altered notes might affect the scale patterns.
As on the previous page, I stick consistently to C as a root note.
Harmonic Minor | Phrygian-Dominant | Lydian-Dominant | Hungarian Major | Hungarian Minor | Arabic | Harmonic Major
The Harmonic Minor Scale
The raising of the seventh note of the natural minor scale to make the harmonic minor scale means a three-fret stretch and a less symmetric fretboard shape. In order to minimize the practical effects of this stretch, the interval is most commonly distributed over two strings.
E-----------------------3-4-7-s8- B-----------------3-4-6---------- G-------------4-5---------------- D-------3-5-6-------------------- A-3-5-6-------------------------- E-------------------------------- 1 3 4 1 3 4 2 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 s4
E-------------------------4-7-8- B-------------------4-6-8------- G-------------4-5-7------------- D-------3-5-6------------------- A-3-5-6------------------------- E------------------------------- 1 3 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4
E----------------------------------------- B---------------------------------9-12-13- G-------------------------8-10-12--------- D-----------------9-10-12----------------- A---------8-10-11------------------------- E-8-10-11--------------------------------- 1 3 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4
E----------------------------------7-8- B------------------------------8-9----- G-------------------------8-10--------- D-----------------9-10-12-------------- A---------8-10-11---------------------- E-8-10-11------------------------------ 1 3 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 3 1 2 1 2
E-----------------------3-4-7-s8- B-----------------3-4-6---------- G-----------1-4-5---------------- D-----1-3-5---------------------- A-3-5---------------------------- E-------------------------------- 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 s4
E-------------------------------7-8- B---------------------------8-9----- G--------------------7-8-10--------- D-------------6-9-10---------------- A------6-8-10----------------------- E-8-10------------------------------ 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 1 2
E----------------------------11-13-15- B-------------------12-13-15---------- G-------------12-13------------------- D----12-13-15------------------------- A-15---------------------------------- E------------------------------------- 4 1 2 4 1 2 1 2 4 1 2 4
E----------------------------7-8- B----------------------6-8-9----- G-------------4-s5-7-8----------- D---------5-6-------------------- A---5-6-8------------------------ E-8------------------------------ 4 1 2 4 1 2 1 s1 3 4 1 3 4 1 2
An alternate way of viewing the shape of the harmonic scale is to "tie together" the leading note and root, since the semitone distance allows them to be played with a quick little legato slide. This allows the following, totally symmetric pattern:
E------------------------------------------------------13-15-16- B-----------------------------------------12-s13-15-16---------- G--------------------------------10-12-13----------------------- D--------------------9-s10-12-13-------------------------------- A------------8-10-11-------------------------------------------- E-7-s8-10-11---------------------------------------------------- 1 s1 3 4 1 3 4 1 s1 3 4 1 3 4 1 s1 3 4 1 3 4
The Phrygian-Dominant Scale
The Phrygian-dominant scale is the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale, and has six notes in common with the Phrygian mode. It is dominant because of the third, which acts as a leading note towards the fourth, which is the root of the harmonic minor scale.
E-------------------------4-6-8- B-------------------5-6-8------- G-------------3-5-6------------- D-------3-5-6------------------- A-3-4-7------------------------- E------------------------------- 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4
E---------------------------------------- B--------------------------------9-11-13- G------------------------9-10-12--------- D----------------8-10-11----------------- A--------8-10-11------------------------- E-8-9-12--------------------------------- 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4
E------------------------------------8- B-----------------------------8-9-11--- G------------------------9-10---------- D----------------8-10-11--------------- A--------8-10-11----------------------- E-8-9-12------------------------------- 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 2 3 1 2 4 1
E-----------------------3-4-6-s8- B-----------------2-5-6---------- G-----------1-3-5---------------- D-----2-3-5---------------------- A-3-4---------------------------- E-------------------------------- 2 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 s4
E---------------------------------8- B--------------------------8-9-11--- G-------------------6-9-10---------- D------------6-8-10----------------- A-----7-8-10------------------------ E-8-9------------------------------- 2 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1
E----------------------------12-13-15- B----------------------13-14---------- G-------------12-13-15---------------- D----11-14-15------------------------- A-15---------------------------------- E------------------------------------- 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 2 3 1 2 4
E-------------------------4-6-8- B-------------------5-6-8------- G---------------5-6------------- D---------5-6-8----------------- A---4-7-8----------------------- E-8----------------------------- 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 1 2 4 1 2 4
The Dorian #4 Scale
The Dorian #4 scale is the fourth mode of the harmonic minor scale. The leading note (major 7th) in this context becomes an augmented fourth. The other six notes are identical to the Dorian mode.
E-------------------------5-6-8- B-------------------4-7-8------- G-------------3-5-7------------- D-------4-5-7------------------- A-3-5-6------------------------- E------------------------------- 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4
E------------------------------------------ B---------------------------------10-11-13- G-------------------------8-11-12---------- D-----------------8-10-12------------------ A---------9-10-12-------------------------- E-8-10-11---------------------------------- 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4
E--------------------------------------8- B------------------------------8-10-11--- G-------------------------8-11----------- D-----------------8-10-12---------------- A---------9-10-12------------------------ E-8-10-11-------------------------------- 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 1 3 4 1
E-----------------------3-5-6-s8- B-----------------3-4-7---------- G-----------2-3-5---------------- D-----1-4-5---------------------- A-3-5---------------------------- E-------------------------------- 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 s4
E-----------------------------------8- B---------------------------8-10-11--- G--------------------7-8-11----------- D-------------7-8-10------------------ A------6-9-10------------------------- E-8-10--------------------------------- 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1
E-------------------------------14-15- B----------------------13-15-16------- G-------------12-14-15---------------- D----12-13-16------------------------- A-15---------------------------------- E------------------------------------- 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 1 3
E-------------------------5-6-8- B---------------------7-8------- G---------------5-7-8----------- D---------5-7-8----------------- A---5-6-9----------------------- E-8----------------------------- 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 3 4 1 2 4
The Lydian-Dominant Scale
As the name implies, this is a variant of the Lydian mode, considered as dominant because of its minor seventh, which is the only difference from the diatonic Lydian mode. It is also related to the Dorian #4 scale, which has the same notes except for a minor third.
E-------------------------5-6-8- B-------------------5-7-8------- G-------------3-5-7------------- D-------4-5-7------------------- A-3-5-7------------------------- E------------------------------- 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4
E------------------------------------------ B---------------------------------10-11-13- G-------------------------9-11-12---------- D-----------------8-10-12------------------ A---------9-10-12-------------------------- E-8-10-12---------------------------------- 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4
E--------------------------------------8- B------------------------------8-10-11--- G-------------------------9-11----------- D-----------------8-10-12---------------- A---------9-10-12------------------------ E-8-10-12-------------------------------- 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 1 3 4 1
E-----------------------3-5-6-s8- B-----------------3-5-7---------- G-----------2-3-5---------------- D-----2-4-5---------------------- A-3-5---------------------------- E-------------------------------- 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 s4
E-----------------------------------8- B---------------------------8-10-11--- G--------------------7-9-11----------- D-------------7-8-10------------------ A------7-9-10------------------------- E-8-10-------------------------------- 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1
E-------------------------------13-15- B----------------------13-15-17------- G-------------12-14-15---------------- D----12-14-16------------------------- A-15---------------------------------- E------------------------------------- 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2
E-------------------------5-6-8- B-------------------5-7-8------- G---------------5-7------------- D---------5-7-8----------------- A---5-7-9----------------------- E-8----------------------------- 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 1 3 4 1 2 4
The Hungarian Major Scale
I have decided to remove the Hungarian major scale from this article. None of my sources on the web seem to agree on what it really is. All agree on the first five notes: root, augmented second, major third, augmented fourth and perfect fifth. None agree on whether the sixth and/or seventh should be minor or major.
The Hungarian Minor Scale
The Hungarian minor scale is a variant of the harmonic minor scale and differs from it by the augmented fourth. It is more chromatic, since the 4th, 5th and 6th degrees are consecutive semitones. However, the augmented fourth can provide the scale with rather neat symmetrical fingerings depending on how you distribute the note material over the strings:
E-------------------------4-7-8- B-------------------4-7-8------- G-------------4-5-7------------- D-------4-5-6------------------- A-3-5-6------------------------- E------------------------------- 1 3 4 2 3 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4
E----------------------------------------- B---------------------------------9-12-13- G-------------------------8-11-12--------- D-----------------9-10-12----------------- A---------9-10-11------------------------- E-8-10-11--------------------------------- 1 3 4 2 3 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4
E-----------------------3-4-7-s8- B-----------------3-4-7---------- G-----------1-4-5---------------- D-----1-4-5---------------------- A-3-5---------------------------- E-------------------------------- 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 s4
E----------------------------------8- B---------------------------8-9-12--- G--------------------7-8-11---------- D-------------6-9-10----------------- A------6-9-10------------------------ E-8-10------------------------------- 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 2
E----------------------------11-14-15- B-------------------12-13-15---------- G-------------12-13------------------- D----12-13-16------------------------- A-15---------------------------------- E------------------------------------- 4 1 2 4 1 2 1 2 4 1 2 4
E---------------------------7-8- B---------------------7-8-9----- G---------------5-7-8----------- D---------5-6-9----------------- A---5-6-9----------------------- E-8---------------------------- 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 3 1 2
The Arabic Scale
Arabic music, with its 24-tone equal temperament (quarter-tone steps), cannot be summarized in one seven-note scale any more than Western music can, so what is known as the Arabic scale is no more than a clichéd Arabic-sounding scale using Western intervals.
The Arabic scale is the fifth mode of the Hungarian minor scale. It could also be considered as a variant of the Phrygian-dominant scale, but with a major seventh. The three consecutive semitones mean that some of the symmetrical fingering patterns used in the Hungarian minor also can be used here:
E-------------------------4-7-8- B-------------------5-6-8------- G-------------4-5-6------------- D-------3-5-6------------------- A-3-4-7------------------------- E------------------------------- 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 4 1 3 4
E---------------------------------------- B--------------------------------9-12-13- G------------------------9-10-12--------- D----------------9-10-11----------------- A--------8-10-11------------------------- E-8-9-12--------------------------------- 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 4 1 3 4
E-----------------------2-4-7-s8- B-----------------2-5-6---------- G-----------1-4-5---------------- D-----2-3-5---------------------- A-3-4---------------------------- E-------------------------------- 2 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 s4
E---------------------------------8- B--------------------------8-9-12--- G-------------------6-9-10---------- D------------6-9-10----------------- A-----7-8-10------------------------ E-8-9------------------------------- 2 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1
E----------------------------12-13-15- B----------------------13-14---------- G-------------12-13-16---------------- D----11-14-15------------------------- A-15---------------------------------- E------------------------------------- 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 2 3 1 2 4
E-------------------------4-7-8- B-------------------5-6-8------- G---------------5-6------------- D---------5-6-7----------------- A---4-7-8----------------------- E-8----------------------------- 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 1 2 4 1 2 4
The Harmonic Major Scale
The harmonic major scale is a non-diatonic variant of the major scale that differs from it in one respect: a minor sixth. This variant provides the major mode with a minor subdominant, or Fm in C major.
E-------------------------4-7-8- B-------------------5-6-8------- G-------------4-5-7------------- D-------3-5-6------------------- A-3-5-7------------------------- E------------------------------- 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4
E----------------------------------------- B---------------------------------9-12-13- G-------------------------9-10-12--------- D-----------------9-10-12----------------- A---------8-10-11------------------------- E-8-10-12--------------------------------- 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4
E-------------------------------------8- B------------------------------8-9-12--- G-------------------------9-10----------- D-----------------9-10-12---------------- A---------8-10-11------------------------ E-8-10-12-------------------------------- 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 1 2 4 1
E------------------------3-4-7s8- B------------------3-5-6--------- G--------------4-5--------------- D-----2-3-5-s6------------------- A-3-5---------------------------- E-------------------------------- 2 4 1 2 4 s4 2 3 1 3 4 1 2 4s4
E-------------------------------7-8- B---------------------------8-9----- G--------------------7-9-10--------- D-------------6-9-10---------------- A------7-8-10----------------------- E-8-10------------------------------ 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 2 3 1 2
E----------------------------12-13-15- B-------------------12-13-15---------- G-------------12-13------------------- D----12-14-15------------------------- A-15---------------------------------- E------------------------------------- 4 1 3 4 1 2 1 2 4 1 2 4
E-------------------------4-7-8- B-------------------5-6-8------- G-------------4-5-7------------- D---------5-6------------------- A---5-7-8----------------------- E-8----------------------------- 4 1 3 4 1 2 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4