Harmonic Minor Arpeggios Lick for advance player

Here’s a study I’ve been working on — a fiery arpeggio sequence built around the harmonic minor scale.

Harmonic minor arpeggio—that’s the heart of this study I’ve been working on. It’s a blazing sequence built from the bones of the harmonic minor scale, designed to stretch both your fingers and your phrasing.

Here is the audio :

Remember its on D# Tuning

Here is the lick slowed down:

Harmonic Minor Arpeggios Lick for advance player

This isn’t a basic sweep or scalar run. It’s a targeted exercise that combines:

Broken arpeggios
Wide interval skips
Diminished runs
And a final string-skipping triplet blast that hits like a punchline.

The harmonic minor scale is what gives this its signature tension. Raise the 7th from the natural minor, and suddenly, everything feels urgent—like it’s chasing a resolution that hasn’t landed yet.

Quick Breakdown:

Tuning: Half-step down (Eb Standard)
Tempo: 140 BPM
Key center: Rooted in A harmonic minor
Technique: Legato, sweep picking, string skipping
Mood: Neoclassical / dark / dramatic

What is the Harmonic Minor Scale?

If you’re new to it, here’s the formula: 1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – 7 – (1)

In A harmonic minor: A – B – C – D – E – F – G# – A

It’s the sound behind classical cadences, Middle Eastern riffs, and metal solos that pull you right to the edge.

Practice Tips:

Start slow. Focus on tone and control—not just speed. Use a metronome and loop each bar until your muscle memory locks it in. Pay special attention to the hammer-on/pull-off transitions, especially in bars 1, 4, and 5.

Here’s a bonus two-octave A harmonic minor scale shape to jam on:

e|————————-4-5|
B|——————–5-6—–|
G|—————4-5———-|
D|———-7—————–|
A|—-7-8-10——————|
E|5-7————————-|

Drop a comment if you want the slowed-down audio or a backing track for jamming. Happy to share more harmonic minor arpeggio licks soon.

here is the guitar pro tab:

lessons-scales-harmonic_minor_arpeggiosDownload

Also check:

Harmonic Minor Chord Scale in Every Key – Audio & Tabs

Put the theory into practice

Map these scales and chords right across the fretboard.

Scale Library Chord Library Guitar Tuner