Why is it called Harmonic Minor?

[Emixolydian]

Well today in Music Theory class, the teacher was babbling on about Natural minor, Melodic Minor, and Harmonic minor scales.

He said he didn't know why they called it Harmonic minor, and it was just a random name, you could call it anything. I don't usually speak up, but I was thinking in my head, "Don't they call it Harmonic minor, because the #7 (in comparison to the natural minor) opens up more harmonic possilbities when playing a minor based mode."

Just wanted to clarify.

[AcousticShred]

Yea the major 7th gives more of a pull towards the tonic. You are right.

[JonR]

I don't know the original source of the term, but my guess would be roughly the same as yours: the harmonic minor scale is an alteration designed to produce a stronger perfect cadence to the tonic (raised 7th leading tone, dom7 chord as V); the reason for the alteration is to improve the harmony, hence the name.

Likewise, the melodic minor scale is an improvement on harmonic minor, removing the melodically awkward augmented 2nd between b6 and 7.

The chords of a minor key are taken from a mix of natural minor and harmonic minor. (Harmonic minor provides the viio7 chord, as well as the V7.)
The notes of a melody in a minor key are taken (normally) from a mix of natural and melodic minor. (Classically, melodic minor is used ascending only. Natural minor is used when descending.)

[crusty]

What I DO know: In medieval Europe in Gregorian chant (which is the ancestor of all western classical music) the 7th scale degree was very often raised when leading to the cadence. Early composers didn't like the melodic interval of an augmented third this creates between the sixth and seventh scale degrees so they would often raise the sixth degree as well - thus this was called the "melodic" minor. I guess it just made logical sence to call the other version the harmonic minor (but I'm just guessing this part :) )

EDIT: (JR ya hit ENTER before me!)

[Eclectifish]

What JonR said.

[gruzzy]

Actually, it was named after Alfred J. Harmonic, the great theorist of the 17th century.

Nah, I'm just kidding. :D JonR's explanation seems pretty reasonable.

[JonR]

crusty's explanation sounds good too, though. These alterations to the minor scale were made before the terms were invented - probably long before. So EMixolydian's teacher may well be not too far off the mark. The terms make a logical sense, after the event - which is what they're for of course. But they didn't have to be THOSE terms - no one said "I'm going to invent a harmonic kind of minor scale, which means I have to raise the 7th" ! Other words might have been used to describe the scales, which (by today) would make as much sense.
In fact, you can argue that harmonic minor doesn't really exist as a scale (in classical terms, in practice). The 7th of natural minor was raised, but only momentarily, to make a cadence. The whole scale wasn't used to make music with. The scale is a theoretical assumption, IOW.
Actual melodies would also raise the 6th (as crusty says), if going up to the 7th and 8th, but then flat the 6th and 7th again when going down. So some theorist comes along and says "Ah, interesting, they're using a scale that is different on the way up from the way down! Let's call it "melodic minor"".
No they're not. They're using a minor scale, but they're moving the 6th and 7th around sometimes, when they feel like it. Who says the 6th and 7th have to be fixed anyway? Huh? :smile:
Theorists like to nail things down, that's the problem - pin the butterfly to the page... We've got to name things somehow, right? Or how can we understand and remember them? But in music - as in nature - things don't stay the same. Nothing is as fixed as it is in books.
(Philosophy lesson over... :smile: )

[fretboard92]

Hmm...you should correct him today.lol. he seems like the kind of guy that would take it personally, like, chew you out for it.

[Emixolydian]

Yeah, I'll talk to him about tomorrow if I get a chance to talk to him alone.

The guy seems kind of cocky, and I don't think he knows much.