G♯ melodic minor scale on guitar
The G♯ melodic minor scale has seven notes: G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯ and F𝄪 (1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7). A minor scale with a major 6th and 7th, or a major scale with a flat 3rd. The jazz minor: smooth over m6 and m(maj7) chords.
| 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 | whole | whole | 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♯ melodic 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♯mcolour | A♯m7colour |
| ♭3 (B) | Baugdaylight | – |
| 4 (C♯) | C♯the door | C♯7the door |
| 5 (D♯) | D♯the pull | D♯7the pull |
| 6 (E♯) | E♯dimthe edge | E♯m7♭5the edge |
| 7 (F𝄪) | F♯♯dimthe edge | F♯♯m7♭5the edge |
Scales with the same notes
Compare the G♯ minor scale, its natural minor.
Questions
What notes are in the G♯ melodic 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 W W H (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the G♯ melodic minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: G♯m, A♯m, Baug, C♯, D♯, E♯dim and F♯♯dim, and as seventh chords A♯m7, C♯7, D♯7, E♯m7♭5 and F♯♯m7♭5. G♯ is home: G♯m is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The melodic minor scale in every key
Other scales in G♯
A♭ majorG♯ minorG♯ minor pentatonicA♭ major pentatonicG♯ bluesG♯ DorianA♭ MixolydianA♭ LydianG♯ PhrygianG♯ harmonic 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.