Minor Scales
Let’s look at how to build a G sharp minor scale on the piano. We’ll look at how to build both G sharp natural minor and G sharp harmonic minor scales.
What Are Minor Scales?
Minor scales are groups of eight notes, played in alphabetical order, starting and ending on the same note. They’re groups of notes used to write songs.
Songs written in the key of G sharp minor used the notes of the G sharp minor scale to write the song.
Three Types of Minor Scales
There are three types of minor scales:
- Natural minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
Minor Scales Printable
This 38-page PDF will help you learn and visualize the notes for both natural minor and harmonic minor scales, laying a wonderful foundation for building chords!
Natural Minor Scales
Natural minor scales each have a relative major scale on the piano. This means these two scales use the same notes to build their scales, but start and end on different notes.
Relative natural minor scales are built off the sixth note of their relative major scale. So to build a natural minor scale, we can start on the sixth note of a major scale, and play through the notes of that major scale to build a natural minor scale.
Another way to build natural minor scales is using a pattern of whole steps and half-steps.
A half-step is the distance from one note to the very next, whether black or white.
A whole step is two half-steps.
So to build a natural minor scale, we can find our starting note, and follow this pattern of whole and half-steps:
W – H – W – W – H – W – W
How to Build a G Sharp Natural Minor Scale
To build a G sharp minor scale, we can start on G sharp and play through the notes of the B major scale. G♯ is the sixth note of the B major scale, so these two scales are relatives.
Or we can start on G♯ and play the note one whole step up, which is A♯. Then we can play the note one half-step up, which is B. Then we can play the note one whole step up, C♯. We can continue following this pattern until we reach the next G♯ and the scale is complete.
What Are the Notes for a G Sharp Natural Minor Scale?
Here are the notes for a G sharp natural minor scale:
G♯ – A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯
Labeling the Notes of the Scale
You may be wondering how we decide to label the A♯ as an A♯ and not a B♭, or why we label the C♯ as a C♯ and not D♭ (sharps indicate the note one half-step up, and flats indicate the note one half-step down).
Since scales must progress in alphabetical order, and since this is a G sharp minor scale, the next note will be some sort of A (since the notes repeat after G), then a B, then a C, and so on.
Enharmonic Scales
Some scales use the same notes on the piano to build their scales, but go by two different names. These are called “enharmonic scales”. There are three sets of enharmonic major scales on the piano:
B major and C♭ major
F♯ major and G♭ major
C♯ major and D♭ major
Since these major scales are enharmonic, their relative minor scales will also be enharmonic.
Here are the enharmonic minor scales:
G♯ minor and A♭ minor
D♯ minor and E♭ minor
A♯ minor and B♭ minor
Harmonic Minor Scales
Harmonic minor scales are similar to natural minor scales, except the seventh note has been raised 1/2 step.
These scales are popular because of the way the raised seventh note changes the music.
How to Build a G Sharp Harmonic Minor Scale
To build a G sharp harmonic minor scale, we can start with a G sharp natural minor scale. Then we can raise the seventh note, F♯,1/2 step to F♯♯ (“F double-sharp”).
If you’re wondering why we would call it “F double-sharp” instead of G, it’s because scales must progress in alphabetical order. Since the note prior to this was an E, the note that follows must be some sort of F.
What Are the Notes for a G Sharp Harmonic Minor Scale?
Here are the notes for a G sharp harmonic minor scale:
G♯ – A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯♯ – G♯
Melodic Minor Scales
Melodic minor scales aren’t as common, because they raise the sixth and seventh notes 1/2 step ascending (going up), and play the natural minor scale descending (going down).
Other Minor Scales
Here are all the minor scales:
A minor scale
E minor scale
B minor scale
F♯ minor scale
C♯ minor scale
G♯ minor scale
D♯ minor scale
A♯ minor scale
D minor scale
G minor scale
C minor scale
F minor scale
B♭ minor scale
E♭ minor scale
A♭ minor scale
Conclusion
Now you know how to build G sharp natural and harmonic minor scales on the piano, and you can use these patterns to build other minor scales!
Playing in minor keys is really enjoyable, since minor keys work well to express introspection and reverence.
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