Harmonic Major Scale

Derived from the Ionian diatonic scale, the harmonic major scale is not uncommon in songwriting and appears mainly in major-mode songs to add unexpected minor mood to the composition.

The only difference between the harmonic major and Ionian scale is the lowering of the sixth degree known as the submediant. The minor subdominant triad is usually introduced in the closing cadences just after the major subdominant chord, forming an intriguing chromatic movement from the sixth to the fifth degree of the Ionian mode.

A detailed analysis of the harmonic major scale and examples of its application in songwriting are explained in this article.

The selected articles cover popular songs composed using the harmonic major scale as well as harmonic analysis of their chord progressions. The list also includes articles on musical theory related to the harmonic major scale.