G Minor Scale
The G minor scale (also called G natural minor or G Aeolian) contains G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb – F. Its key signature has 2 flats: Bb and Eb.
| 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 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.
Key signature
G minor has 2 flats: Bb and Eb. Its relative major is Bb major, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of G minor and of Bb major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from G |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | 0 |
| 2 | A | 2 |
| b3 | Bb | 3 |
| 4 | C | 5 |
| 5 | D | 7 |
| b6 | Eb | 8 |
| b7 | F | 10 |
Step pattern
The Natural Minor scale is built from the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W (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 G Natural Minor
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 G Natural Minor.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Gm | G Bb D |
| 2 | ii° | Adim | A C Eb |
| 3 | III | Bb | Bb D F |
| 4 | iv | Cm | C Eb G |
| 5 | v | Dm | D F A |
| 6 | VI | Eb | Eb G Bb |
| 7 | VII | F | F A C |
Other modes on G
More scales on G
Natural Minor scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the G Natural Minor scale?
The G Natural Minor scale contains G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, then returns to G an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the G 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.
How many flats are in G minor?
G minor has 2 flats: Bb and Eb.
What is the step pattern of the Natural Minor scale?
The Natural Minor scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the G Natural Minor scale?
The diatonic chords are Gm, Adim, Bb, Cm, Dm, Eb, F. Each is built only from notes of the G Natural Minor scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.