For example, in A harmonic minor there are no sharps or flats other than the raised seventh of G#. There are two kinds of minor scales - the melodic minor scale and the harmonic minor scale.

Here’s my go-to practice routine for tackling altered dominant chords—especially those spicy #5/#9 voicings—and the diminished whole-tone scale (aka the 7th mode of the melodic minor). These sounds ...