Ukulele · harmonic minor

G harmonic minor scale on ukulele

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.

The notes of the G harmonic minor scale
NoteGAB♭CDE♭F♯
Interval1 (root)2♭345♭67
Step to the nextwholehalfwholewholehalf1½half
Make a practice sheet of it
The whole neckevery G harmonic minor scale note from the nut to fret 15, the root a diamond
GCEA135791215openR2♭345♭67R2♭345♭67R2♭345♭67R2♭345♭67R2♭345♭67R2♭34

3 positions to learn it in

Each stretch here is a few frets you can play without moving the hand: the open position, then from the root on the lowest string. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.

Open positionfrets 0–3
GCEA13openR2♭345♭67R2♭34
Frets 2–6frets 2–6
GCEA2352♭345♭677R2♭345♭6
Frets 6–10frets 6–10
GCEA6795♭67R2♭3♭345♭67R

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 (Gm) is where it sounds at home.

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: Gm, Adim, B♭aug, Cm, D, E♭ and F♯dim, and as seventh chords Am7♭5, Cm7, D7 and E♭maj7. G is home: Gm is the chord it sounds most settled over.

The harmonic minor scale in every key

CC♯DE♭EFF♯GG♯AB♭B

Other scales in G

G majorG minorG minor pentatonicG major pentatonicG bluesG DorianG MixolydianG LydianG PhrygianG melodic minorG Phrygian dominant

Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: ukulele scales. This scale on guitar, bass, mandolin and banjo.