G Harmonic Minor Scale

1Composition: what it contains

G – A – B♭ – C – D – E♭ – F♯

Formula

1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7

Steps

W – H – W – W – H – W+H – H

Number of notes

7

Sharps and flats

1 ♯, 2 ♭

Also called

Aeolian ♯7, Mohammedan scale

2Appearance: diagrams and sound

Tip: click any note, key or fret to hear it. Orange = root.

3Indications: what it is used for

Built to give minor keys a major V chord and a diminished seventh leading-tone chord, so it is the scale of minor cadences: i–iv–V7–i, ii°–V7–i and the vii°7 chord resolving to i. Typical in classical music, neoclassical metal, flamenco-flavoured pieces, tango, klezmer and film scores. In jazz it is played over V7♭9 resolving to a minor chord, starting from the target chord's root. Its fifth mode is the phrygian dominant, so the two are often used together over the dominant chord.

4Dosage: how to practise it

Ten minutes a day at 60–80 BPM. Isolate the augmented second first: play degrees 5-6-7-8 and back until the stretch feels natural. Then play full two-octave runs in triplets and sixteenths, and practise arpeggios of the i chord and the V7 chord within the scale. On guitar, use three-notes-per-string patterns, where the augmented second often falls between two strings or requires a wide stretch. On piano, practise it hands together in contrary motion to secure the fingering around the raised seventh.

5Warnings and common mistakes

Do not use it blindly over every chord in a minor song: over the iv, VI or III chords the raised seventh can clash; natural minor or Dorian often fits better there. The augmented second can sound cliché if overused, so mix stepwise motion with it. Beginners often forget that only the seventh is raised, not the sixth (that would be melodic minor). Be aware that the raised seventh may need a sharp or a natural sign that is not in the key signature.

6Interactions with chords, scales and keys

Chords of the scale (triads)

Chords of the scale (seventh chords)

Same notes, different starting point

• D Phrygian Dominant Scale

7Other presentations available

The same scale from every note

• C Harmonic Minor Scale
• C sharp Harmonic Minor Scale
• D Harmonic Minor Scale
• E flat Harmonic Minor Scale
• E Harmonic Minor Scale
• F Harmonic Minor Scale
• F sharp Harmonic Minor Scale
• A flat Harmonic Minor Scale
• A Harmonic Minor Scale
• B flat Harmonic Minor Scale
• B Harmonic Minor Scale

Other scales from the same note

• G Major Scale
• G Natural Minor Scale
• G Melodic Minor Scale
• G Dorian Mode
• G Phrygian Mode
• G Lydian Mode
• G Mixolydian Mode
• G Locrian Mode
• G Major Pentatonic Scale
• G Minor Pentatonic Scale
• G Blues Scale
• G Major Blues Scale
• G Whole Tone Scale
• G Half-Whole Diminished Scale
• G Whole-Half Diminished Scale
• G Phrygian Dominant Scale
• G Hungarian Minor Scale
• G Lydian Dominant Scale
• G Altered Scale
• G Double Harmonic Major Scale
• G Bebop Dominant Scale