About the G Harmonic Minor Scale
The G harmonic minor scale is a 7-note scale. Natural minor with raised 7th, exotic sound. Its notes are G, A, A#, C, D, D# and F#, built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7.
- Notes
- G – A – A# – C – D – D# – F#
- Formula
- 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7
- Steps
- W H W W H W+H H (2–1–2–2–1–3–1 semitones)
- Root
- G
G Harmonic Minor Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | Root |
| 2 | A | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | A# | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | C | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | D | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | D# | Minor 6th |
| 7 | F# | Major 7th |
Where to play the G Harmonic Minor Scale on 5-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (G) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11 |
| E1 | 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| A1 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12 |
| D2 | 0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
| G2 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12 |
How to practice the harmonic minor scale
- Focus on the augmented 2nd interval
- Practice neoclassical sweep patterns
- Work on Yngwie-style sequences
- Use over minor progressions with V7
- Emphasize the leading tone resolution
Scales with the same notes as G Harmonic Minor Scale
These scales share every note with the G harmonic minor scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Harmonic Minor scale in other keys
Other scales in G
- G Minor Pentatonic
- G Major Pentatonic
- G Mixolydian Pentatonic
- G Natural Minor
- G Major (Ionian)
- G Blues
- G Dorian
- G Mixolydian
- G Phrygian
- G Lydian
- G Locrian
- G Diminished (Half-Whole)
- G Diminished (Whole-Half)
- G Whole Tone
- G Augmented (Hexatonic)
- G Altered (Super Locrian)
- G Phrygian Dominant
- G Lydian Dominant
- G Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- G Bebop Dominant
- G Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- G Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)