Minor scales
G harmonic minor scale
The G harmonic minor scale is G A B♭ C D E♭ F♯ G. It uses the key signature of B♭ major, two flats (B♭ and E♭), and raises the seventh note with an accidental. Here it is for both hands with the standard fingering.
- 2 flats: B♭ E♭
- Relative major: B♭ major
- RH 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
- LH 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1
Listen with the cursor following the notes, or play along: the music waits for each note, and the keys show which finger to use.
The notes
G minor has two flats, B♭ and E♭, the key signature of B♭ major, its relative major.
| Degree | Note | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Tonic | G | 1 | 5 |
| 2Supertonic | A | 2 | 4 |
| 3Mediant | B♭ | 3 | 3 |
| 4Subdominant | C | 1 | 2 |
| 5Dominant | D | 2 | 1 |
| 6Submediant | E♭ | 3 | 3 |
| 7Leading note | F♯ | 4 | 2 |
| 8Tonic | G | 5 | 1 |
Key signature
G minor has two flats (B♭ and E♭) in its key signature, the same as B♭ major, its relative major. The harmonic minor adds one accidental, the raised seventh, F♯, which is written in each time it comes.
What makes it harmonic minor
The harmonic minor is the natural minor with its seventh raised a half step, F to F♯, written as an accidental (the key signature stays B♭ major’s). The raised seventh is a leading note: a half step below the tonic, it pulls up to G, and it gives the key its major chord on the fifth note.
That leaves a step and a half between the sixth and seventh notes, E♭ to F♯ (an augmented second), the gap that gives the harmonic minor its sound. Watch it under the fingers: 3–4 in the right hand and 3–2 in the left hand going up.
Fingering
Right hand: 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 going up. Going up, the thumb passes under the third finger from B♭ to C. The fourth finger plays F♯: once per octave, a good landmark for where the hand is. Over two octaves, the G in the middle takes the thumb instead of the fifth finger, and the pattern starts again.
Left hand: 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 going up. Going up, the third finger crosses over the thumb from D to E♭. The fourth finger plays A: once per octave, a good landmark for where the hand is. Over two octaves, the left hand starts on the fifth finger only once, at the bottom; the G in the middle takes the thumb.
Fingered like C major in both hands. In the right hand B♭ and E♭ both fall under the third finger, so the thumb passes under from a black key to C, and the hand stays well forward on the keys. In the left hand the thumb plays D and G.
Chords in G minor
The triads built on each note of the harmonic minor. Its raised seventh makes the chord on the fifth note major, the V that leads home in most minor-key music.
- i G minor
- ii° A diminished
- III+ B♭ augmented
- iv C minor
- V D major
- VI E♭ major
- vii° F♯ diminished
Music in G minor
- Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, K. 550
- Chopin’s Ballade No. 1, Op. 23
- Bach’s “Little” Fugue in G minor, BWV 578
How to practise it
- Hands separately first, slowly, saying the finger numbers. Fingering learned slowly stays; fingering found at speed changes every time.
- Practise the thumb crossings alone: play just the notes either side of each crossing, back and forth, until the thumb is in place before it’s needed.
- Then hands together, one octave, then two. The hands cross their thumbs at different places, which is what makes scales hands together hard at first.
- Use “Play along” above: it waits for each note, so you can check every note and finger at your own pace. Then Listen at ♩ = 72 and play with it.
Quick answers
- What are the notes of the G harmonic minor scale?
- G A B♭ C D E♭ F♯ G.
- What is the fingering for the G harmonic minor scale?
- Right hand 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5, left hand 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1, going up one octave from G (1 is the thumb). Coming down, the same fingers in reverse.
- What key signature does G minor have?
- Two flats (B♭ and E♭), the same as its relative major, B♭ major.
Scales, then real music
Pianomi is a free app that listens to your MIDI keyboard. It takes you through scales and arpeggios at a steady tempo, grading every note and beat, and gives you new music to sight-read every day, at your level.