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G minor six diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12

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

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

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

B string: C, D, Eb, E, F#, G, A, Bb at frets 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

High E string: E, F#, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12

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G 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:

G

I

A

II

B♭

bIII

C

IV

D

V

E♭

bVI

E

VI

F♯

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 Gm6 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 (E) belongs to the m6 sound, flat 6th (Eb) to the diminished layer passing between V and VI.
  • Over a minor ii-V-i in G minor, this single scale supplies voice-led chords for the whole bar of tonic minor.

How to play G minor six diminished on guitar

Open G is the tonic here, so that string rings as a pedal while you play above it. Open D adds the fifth and open A the second, which means a drone pair sits ready under any lick. Both E strings sound the sixth open. Fretted roots land at 3 on the E strings, 10 on the A and 8 on the B. Fret 7 opens the next position, so keep the first box below it.

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