STRINGSCALES

A minor six diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, F#, G#, A, B, C, D, E at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

A string: A, B, C, D, E, F, F#, G#, A at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12

D string: D, E, F, F#, G#, A, B, C, D at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

G string: G#, A, B, C, D, E, F, F# at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

B string: B, C, D, E, F, F#, G#, A, B at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

High E string: E, F, F#, G#, A, B, C, D, E at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

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A minor six diminished

The minor six diminished scale is Barry Harris's minor sixth diminished scale: a minor 6th chord and a diminished 7th chord interleaved, eight notes alternating chord and tension. Run it and every other note forms the m6 chord, the engine of his harmonic system. It turns a static minor chord into continuous internal motion.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

B

II

C

bIII

D

IV

E

V

F

bVI

F♯

VI

G♯

VII

minor six diminished in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • This is Barry Harris's minor sixth diminished scale: alternate the Am6 chord tones with the diminished tones as you climb, chord-tone on the beat.
  • Harmonize every scale step as either the m6 chord or the diminished 7th; that alternation is instant movement over a static minor chord.
  • Use both 6ths deliberately: natural 6th (F#) belongs to the m6 sound, flat 6th (F) to the diminished layer passing between V and VI.
  • Over a minor ii-V-i in A minor, this single scale supplies voice-led chords for the whole bar of tonic minor.

How to play A minor six diminished on guitar

Open A is the tonic and both E strings give the fifth, so five of the six strings ring inside the key. Open D supplies the fourth, open B the second. Fret 5 on the low E is the lowest root, which puts an E-shape barre right there. Two more roots wait at 7 on the D string, 10 on the B. Fret 9 ends the first box, so plan the climb from there.

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