STRINGSCALES

E minor six diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

G string: G, A, B, C, C#, D#, E, F#, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

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

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

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E 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:

E

I

F♯

II

G

bIII

A

IV

B

V

C

bVI

C♯

VI

D♯

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 Em6 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 (C#) belongs to the m6 sound, flat 6th (C) to the diminished layer passing between V and VI.
  • Over a minor ii-V-i in E minor, this single scale supplies voice-led chords for the whole bar of tonic minor.

How to play E minor six diminished on guitar

Both open E strings are roots, so the key rings out before you fret a note. Open A adds the fourth, open B the fifth and open G the minor third, which lets an open-position run stay mostly unfretted. Higher up, roots land at 7 on the A string and 9 on the G. Position work starts at fret 4. Barre shapes sit at 7 and 12, so the E-shape lands at the octave.

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