hidden patterns: the harmonic major

There are different ways of learning modes: one way is to look at (say) a C major scale and then see that it contains the D dorian, E phrygian, F lydian and so on. Another way to approach learning modes would be to keep the same tonic: C ionian, C dorian, C phrygian, etc. In this method we're actually moving through many (7 in fact) different keys: C major, Bb major, Ab major... If we do this with the harmonic minor modes something very interesting happens...but first let's take a look at the major and then melodic minor scales.

This table shows the major scale modes starting on C as well as the parent mode whence they come:



If we examine the roots of the parent scales we'll notice that -- when rearranged -- they form an A-flat major scale: Ab Bb C Db Eb F G.

Let's do the same thing with the melodic minor modes:


In this case the roots of the parent scales form a B-flat melodic minor scale (Bb C Db Eb F G A).

Up to this point there isn't much surprising: the roots of the parent scales both spell out major and melodic minor scales. However this situation changes when we subject the harmonic minor modes to the same investigation:


Here the roots of the parent scales form a (drum roll please...) harmonic major scale! F harmonic major to be exact: F G A Bb C Db E. And in a way this gives a nice rationale for the harmonic major: even if we'd never heard of nor conceived of it there it is, buried in the harmonic minor in a sense. File this one under how wonderously strange nature is...

See also: modes