About the G#/Ab Harmonic Minor Scale
The G#/Ab harmonic minor scale is a 7-note scale. Natural minor with raised 7th, exotic sound. Its notes are G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E and G, built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7.
- Notes
- G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E – G
- 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#/Ab
G#/Ab Harmonic Minor Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G# | Root |
| 2 | A# | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | B | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | C# | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | D# | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | E | Minor 6th |
| 7 | G | Major 7th |
Where to play the G#/Ab 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 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12 |
| E1 | 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 |
| A1 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11 |
| D2 | 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| G2 | 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 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#/Ab Harmonic Minor Scale
These scales share every note with the G#/Ab 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#/Ab
- G#/Ab Minor Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Major Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Mixolydian Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Natural Minor
- G#/Ab Major (Ionian)
- G#/Ab Blues
- G#/Ab Dorian
- G#/Ab Mixolydian
- G#/Ab Phrygian
- G#/Ab Lydian
- G#/Ab Locrian
- G#/Ab Diminished (Half-Whole)
- G#/Ab Diminished (Whole-Half)
- G#/Ab Whole Tone
- G#/Ab Augmented (Hexatonic)
- G#/Ab Altered (Super Locrian)
- G#/Ab Phrygian Dominant
- G#/Ab Lydian Dominant
- G#/Ab Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- G#/Ab Bebop Dominant
- G#/Ab Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- G#/Ab Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)