How Han Solo Handles Half Diminished Chords

Everybody knows Han Solo plays by his own rules. But how does he play over half diminished chords?

First, let’s talk about farm boy Luke Skywalker. An idealist at heart, wide-eyed Luke puts his faith in the Locrian mode as the best way to weave through half-diminished chords, just like Beggar’s Canyon back home.

And he’s not wrong. After all, your classic half diminished chord is indeed derived from the Locrian scale: B C D E F G A.

But c’mon, that Locrian sound is as lame as Luke’s early years living with Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru.

Can’t blame him, though. He doesn’t know what else is out there. So, he accepts Locrian as the only scale he can play over half diminished chords.

But…

There is another.

And Han, old buddy, has been around long enough to know what’s up.

You see, Captain Solo—against all odds—discovered a subtle alteration to the Locrian scale that makes it sound modern and hip. On the surface, it looks like a trivial adjustment. After all, he’s just raising one note by a half step. But when you hear it in action, you’ll agree it’s one of his signature special modifications.

So, what is this mysterious note from a galaxy far, far away? I’ll give you a hint: by raising this scale degree by a half step, you rid the Locrian mode of that hideous minor ninth.

Did you figure it out?

Okay I’ll tell you…

Raise the second scale degree. The resulting mode is Locrian #2 aka Locrian Major 2. In B it looks like this: B C# D E F G A. And when you arpeggiate from root to ninth, you get B D F A C#, which is such a nicer sound than B D F A C. Again that minor ninth between B and C natural is as grating on the ears as Luke complaining about power converters at Tosche Station.

If you want to see and hear Locrian #2 in action and rid yourself of any uncertainty of what to play over half diminished chords, I’ve got something for you...

Something that will also help you gain back your confidence on those troublesome Fully Diminished 7 chords and help you replace the worn out lines you’ve been playing over Major 7, Minor 7, and Dominant 7 chords with more fresh licks than you’ll know what to do with.

That something is Licks for Days, and you learn more about it by clicking on the link below:

Click here to learn more about Licks for Days.

May the force be with you,

Jeff