G♯ Harmonic Minor Scale (G#)
The G# harmonic minor scale contains G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E – F##. It is G# natural minor with the 7th raised from F# to F##. It keeps the key signature of G# minor (5 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D# and A#), and the F## is written as an accidental. F## is a double sharp, the same piano key as G. It uses the same piano keys as Ab harmonic minor, spelled Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – Fb – G.
| Note | G# | A# | B | C# | D# | E | F## | G# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
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 B and E. Left hand, going up: finger 4 crosses over the thumb to C# and finger 3 crosses over the thumb to G#. 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# | B | C# | D# | E | F# |
| Harmonic | G# | A# | B | C# | D# | E | 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 E 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 G#m. 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 |
| B | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| C# | 4 | perfect 4th | 5 |
| D# | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| E | 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 5 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D# and A#, and harmonic minor uses the same key signature with one accidental, on the raised 7th: F##. See the key of Ab minor (the same keys as 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 | G#m | G# B D# |
| 2 | ii° | A#dim | A# C# E |
| 3 | III+ | Baug | B D# F## |
| 4 | iv | C#m | C# E G# |
| 5 | V | D# | D# F## A# |
| 6 | VI | E | E G# B |
| 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#, B, C#, D#, E, 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: 5 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D# and A#. 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 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 and the left hand plays 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3, 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.