G♯ harmonic minor scale on guitar
The G♯ harmonic minor scale has seven notes: G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E and F𝄪 (1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7). Natural minor with a raised 7th, which leads back up to the root and makes the V chord major. The neo-classical shred sound; the jump from ♭6 to 7 is three frets wide.
| Note | G♯ | A♯ | B | C♯ | D♯ | E | F𝄪 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | half | whole | whole | half | 1½ | half |
5 positions to learn it in
On guitar a seven-note scale is learnt in five shapes, each built round one of the open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D. Together they cover the neck. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the G♯ harmonic minor scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; G♯ (G♯m) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (G♯) | G♯mhome | – |
| 2 (A♯) | A♯dimthe edge | A♯m7♭5the edge |
| ♭3 (B) | Baugdaylight | – |
| 4 (C♯) | C♯msoft fall | C♯m7soft fall |
| 5 (D♯) | D♯the pull | D♯7the pull |
| ♭6 (E) | Ecinematic | Emaj7cinematic |
| 7 (F𝄪) | F♯♯dimthe edge | – |
Scales with the same notes
Compare the G♯ minor scale, its natural minor.
Questions
What notes are in the G♯ harmonic minor scale?
G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E and F𝄪. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7, and the steps between its notes are W H W W H W+H H (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the G♯ harmonic minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: G♯m, A♯dim, Baug, C♯m, D♯, E and F♯♯dim, and as seventh chords A♯m7♭5, C♯m7, D♯7 and Emaj7. G♯ is home: G♯m is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The harmonic minor scale in every key
Other scales in G♯
A♭ majorG♯ minorG♯ minor pentatonicA♭ major pentatonicG♯ bluesG♯ DorianA♭ MixolydianA♭ LydianG♯ PhrygianG♯ melodic minorA♭ Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.