G♯ minor scale on guitar
The G♯ minor scale has seven notes: G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E and F♯ (1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7). The plain minor scale: the minor pentatonic with the 2nd and ♭6 filled in. Sad or serious, and the home of minor-key rock and metal, over changes like Am, F and G.
| 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 | whole | whole |
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♯ 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 | G♯m7home |
| 2 (A♯) | A♯dimthe edge | A♯m7♭5the edge |
| ♭3 (B) | Bdaylight | Bmaj7daylight |
| 4 (C♯) | C♯msoft fall | C♯m7soft fall |
| 5 (D♯) | D♯msoft fall | D♯m7soft fall |
| ♭6 (E) | Ecinematic | Emaj7cinematic |
| ♭7 (F♯) | F♯heroic | F♯7heroic |
Scales with the same notes
Its relative major is the B major scale: the same notes, started from B.
The chords of this key, to hear and play: chords in the key of G♯ minor.
Questions
What notes are in the G♯ 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 W (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the G♯ minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: G♯m, A♯dim, B, C♯m, D♯m, E and F♯, and as seventh chords G♯m7, A♯m7♭5, Bmaj7, C♯m7, D♯m7, Emaj7 and F♯7. G♯ is home: G♯m is the chord it sounds most settled over.
What is the relative major of the G♯ minor scale?
The B major scale, which has the same notes started from B.
The minor scale in every key
Other scales in G♯
A♭ majorG♯ minor pentatonicA♭ major pentatonicG♯ bluesG♯ DorianA♭ MixolydianA♭ LydianG♯ PhrygianG♯ harmonic minorG♯ 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.