Minor scales
A minor scale could be said to be any scale that has a 3rd note which is a semitone lower than it would have been in a major scale - a b3. The Dorian, Phrygian, Aeolian and Locrian modes (see modes of the major scale) are all minor modes. The Aeolian (mode 6) is usually called the Natural Minor - it is the relative minor of the major scale it came from.
The harmonic minor is a natural minor but with a #7 - the seventh note of the scale is raised a semitone (one fret). This makes for more interesting and stronger chord progressions and gives the scale an 'oriental' or 'Arabic' feel to many European ears (more due to Hollywood film music than any other reason). I find the harmonic minor to be the most useful scale when improvising in minor sections of jazz tunes.
Here are two versions of the harmonic minor - one version with the 'modes' of the scale written out with three notes per string, the other being the single position versions of the scale starting any string on any finger (the latter being generally more useful).
Enjoy!
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