G♭ Major Scale (Gb)
The Gb major scale (also called Gb Ionian) contains Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – F. Its key signature has 6 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb. It uses the same piano keys as F# major, spelled F# – G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E# (6 sharps).
| Note | Gb | Ab | Bb | Cb | Db | Eb | F | Gb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Left hand | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
Gb major scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to Cb and F. Left hand, going up: finger 3 crosses over the thumb to Db and finger 4 crosses over the thumb to Gb. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
Gb major has 6 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb. Its relative minor is Eb minor, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of F# major and of Eb minor.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from Gb |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gb | 0 |
| 2 | Ab | 2 |
| 3 | Bb | 4 |
| 4 | Cb | 5 |
| 5 | Db | 7 |
| 6 | Eb | 9 |
| 7 | F | 11 |
Step pattern
The Major scale is built from the pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in Gb Major
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in Gb Major.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | Gb | Gb Bb Db |
| 2 | ii | Abm | Ab Cb Eb |
| 3 | iii | Bbm | Bb Db F |
| 4 | IV | Cb | Cb Eb Gb |
| 5 | V | Db | Db F Ab |
| 6 | vi | Ebm | Eb Gb Bb |
| 7 | vii° | Fdim | F Ab Cb |
Other modes on F# (the same keys as Gb)
More scales on F# (the same keys as Gb)
Major scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Gb Major scale?
The Gb Major scale contains Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, then returns to Gb an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the Gb major scale on piano?
Going up from Gb to Gb, the right hand plays 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 and the left hand plays 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many flats are in Gb major?
Gb major has 6 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb.
What is the step pattern of the Major scale?
The Major scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the Gb Major scale?
The diatonic chords are Gb, Abm, Bbm, Cb, Db, Ebm, Fdim. Each is built only from notes of the Gb Major scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.