G Harmonic Minor Scale
The G harmonic minor scale contains G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb – F#. It is G natural minor with the 7th raised from F to F#. It keeps the key signature of G minor (2 flats: Bb and Eb), and the F# is written as an accidental.
| Note | G | A | Bb | C | D | Eb | F# | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
G harmonic minor scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to C. Left hand, going up: finger 3 crosses over the thumb to Eb. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
G harmonic minor vs G natural minor
| Degree | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural | G | A | Bb | C | D | Eb | F |
| Harmonic | G | A | Bb | C | D | Eb | F# |
Only the 7th changes. F# sits a half step below G, so it pulls up to the tonic, which F does not. It also leaves a gap of three semitones between Eb and F#, an augmented 2nd, and that gap is the sound people recognise in this scale.
What G harmonic minor is used for
Harmonic minor is what makes a minor key cadence. The raised 7th turns the chord on the 5th degree from minor into major, D (D F# A), and that chord resolves firmly to Gm. It also gives the diminished F#dim (F# A C) on the 7th degree. Most minor-key classical harmony borrows these chords, even when the melody stays in natural minor.
Chords that change from natural minor
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from G | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | root | 0 |
| A | 2 | major 2nd | 2 |
| Bb | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| C | 4 | perfect 4th | 5 |
| D | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| Eb | b6 | minor 6th | 8 |
| F# | 7 | major 7th | 11 |
Step pattern
The harmonic minor scale is built from the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W+H – H (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = three semitones). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same scale in a different key.
Key signature
G minor has 2 flats: Bb and Eb, and harmonic minor uses the same key signature with one accidental, on the raised 7th: F#. See the key of G minor for the rest of its chords.
Chords in G harmonic minor
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these triads.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Gm | G Bb D |
| 2 | ii° | Adim | A C Eb |
| 3 | III+ | Bbaug | Bb D F# |
| 4 | iv | Cm | C Eb G |
| 5 | V | D | D F# A |
| 6 | VI | Eb | Eb G Bb |
| 7 | vii° | F#dim | F# A C |
More scales on G
Harmonic Minor scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the G harmonic minor scale?
The G harmonic minor scale contains G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F#, then returns to G an octave higher.
What is the difference between G harmonic minor and G natural minor?
Only the 7th note. G natural minor has F; G harmonic minor raises it to F#, a half step below the tonic.
What key signature does G harmonic minor use?
The key signature of G minor: 2 flats: Bb and Eb. The raised 7th, F#, is written as an accidental.
What is the fingering for the G harmonic minor scale on piano?
Going up from G to G, the right hand plays 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 and the left hand plays 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
What is the step pattern of the harmonic minor scale?
It follows the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W+H – H, where W is a whole step (two semitones), H is a half step (one semitone) and W+H is three semitones.