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harmonic minor used over a minor 2-5

Discussion in 'Jazz Technique [DB]' started by 33degrees, Nov 23, 2005.

  1. Nov 23, 2005 #1
    33degrees

    33degrees

    Jun 4, 2005
    Spain
    in michael moores book, 'playing in thumb pos.' he says that the harmonic minor is used to play over a minor 2-5-1. but everyone else here and elsewhere says that the melodic minor is more important and becuase marc levin wrote that the harmonic minor shouldnt be used to play over all the 2-5-1 (only parts of the scale) i think some people think this must be gospel. I think maybe the harmonic minor is better suited to the upright becuase you can stay in one key ,it's especially difficult to keep changing key in thumb position.
    so maybe different scales work better on different instruments? id rather take michales moores advice than marc levin's.
     
  2. Nov 23, 2005 #2
    kwd

    kwd

    Jun 26, 2003
    silicon valley
    You end up playing the b9 over the minor and the 11 over the dominant chord if you use the harmonic minor. Those are grievous sins according to the theory police. The melodic minor thing is 100% sound with respect to theory, but you need to apply two scales (min 3rd over half-dim chord and b9 over the Alt-Dom chord). If you don't play the bad notes of the harmonic minor on downbeats, I don't think you'll hear the difference. If you have a piano, try sounding it out. I drove myself nuts with never ending 'scale choice' thing. Maybe I'm apathetic and lazy, these days I opt for simplicity.
     
  3. Nov 23, 2005 #3
    Scot

    Scot

    Mar 20, 2004
    Pacifica, CA, USA
    Michael Moore's examples in the book in the Harmonic Minor section sound great to my ears.
     
  4. Nov 27, 2005 #4
    33degrees

    33degrees

    Jun 4, 2005
    Spain
    thats exactly what im talking about. on the plank i can play all scales in every key with ease but on the upright i have to really work my scales, i have to know every note, there's no patterns or short cuts. i think Marc levin is writing from a 'pianistic' point of view, sure on the piano you can play pretty much anything with ease but to change 3 keys for a 2-5-1 in thumb position and not play licks or patterns can at time be some what demanding!
    i think moore uses the HH for a reason, maybe its this!