Harmonizing Scales (Chord Scales) Other Than Major

[zbalz]

I figured if the major scale can be harmonized...any scale can. So I tried the C minor scale (R,2,b3,4,5,b6,b7,R and the pattern W-H-W-W-H-W-W..which if one hasnt noticed, is the major scale shifted over one and a half steps).

I found the minor scale harmonized has the same chord scale pattern (I,ii,iii,IV,V,vi,vii,VII) as the major scale but shifted over one and a half steps (i,ii,III,iv,v,VI,VII,i).

So the harmonized minor scale would be:

Cminor,D diminished, D# major, F minor, G minor, G# major, A# major, C minor.

ALL this so far is correct right?

Now my questions. I understand that any harmonized minor scale has a relative harmonized major scale but are chord scales other than the major ever used?

Is it possible to harmonize every scale or was my guess wrong.

For example, can one harmonize the C blues scale (or any other scale that is not relative to the major scale) and is it ever used? If so, do any of you know any examples? (songs, eras, etc.)

Thats it..I think http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif
Thanks

-zbalz

[This message has been edited by zbalz (edited January 23, 2001).]

[StoneDragon]

You are definitely on the right track here. But one thing you should add is a proper understanding of key signature.

The chord scale for C minor is Cmin Ddim EbMaj Fmin Gmin AbMaj BbMaj

3 flats... same as Eb Major. You don't want to use the same letter name twice if it can be avoided. That's the convention.

Anyway... any scale or mode can be harmonized, but for the most part people tend to stick with harmonies built from the major and minor scale (Ionian and Aeolian modes) the major scale modes (lots of rock tunes are based around Mixolydian and Dorian) or the Harmonic and Melodic minor (most classical pieces and a lot of old folk songs). The only reason for this is that these are the sounds that people are "used to". But that doesn't even begin to touch on what is possible.

Take for example The Enigmatic from Joe Satriani's Not Of This Earth. He used the "Enigmatic" scale (1 b2 3 #4 #5 #6 7) as the basis for both the harmony and the melody. I happen to think it is a very haunting and beautiful piece, but most people would probably not consider it music because you can't dance to it.