Learn all about the G-sharp minor piano scale, including its notes, diatonic chords, finger positions, and songs in this key
Here’s what you’ll learn about G♯ minor in this article:
- Musical history of the G♯ minor scale
- What notes to play on the keyboard for the G♯ minor scale
- The key signature for G♯ minor
- How the G♯ minor scale looks written on the treble staff
- The fingering for the one-octave G♯ natural minor scale
- The natural, harmonic, and melodic forms of the G♯ minor scale
- How to play chords on the piano in the key of G♯ minor
- Some songs to learn and listen to in G♯ minor
Learn to play all the minor scales with our free Minor Scale Guide!
Interesting background on the G-sharp minor scale
The G-sharp minor scale, like other minor scales, has a rich and evocative sound that has been used in various musical contexts. Here are some interesting aspects and background information about this scale:
- Usage in Classical Music: G-sharp minor is not a commonly used key in classical music due to its complex notation. However, some notable pieces in this key include Frédéric Chopin’s Etude in G sharp minor, and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G-sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12.
- Enharmonic equivalent: G-sharp minor uses the same pitches as A-flat minor. While G-sharp minor is written with sharps, A-flat minor is written with flats. The choice between these two depends on the context and ease of notation and performance.
- Adaptation in various genres: G-sharp minor has been explored in jazz, film scores, and contemporary music. Its distinctive sound can add a unique character to compositions across various genres. With its specific tonal qualities, it is often used to evoke deep, emotional, and sometimes turbulent moods.
Despite its complexity and less frequent use, the G-sharp minor scale holds a special place in music for its unique tonal color and the expressive possibilities it offers to composers and performers.
What are the notes of the G-sharp minor scale?
Every minor scale has three versions: natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor. First, let’s look at the natural minor scale.
The G-sharp natural minor scale starts on G♯ and has five notes that are automatically sharp. The notes of this scale are G♯ (G sharp), A♯ (A sharp), B, C♯ (C sharp), D♯ (D sharp), E, F♯ (F sharp), and G♯.
The harmonic minor scale is like natural minor except for one small change. The seventh tone of the scale is raised a half step. So the notes of the G♯ harmonic minor scale are G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E, F
(F double sharp, same as G), and G♯.
The melodic minor scale differs from natural minor by two notes. Both the sixth and seventh tones are raised a half step when the scale is ascending, and then lowered when the scale is descending. The notes of the G♯ melodic minor scale are G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯ (same note as F natural), F (F double sharp), and G♯.
What is the key signature for G-sharp minor?
The G♯ minor key signature has five sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, and A♯. As you can see below, this large number of sharps takes up a good deal of space after the clef:
What is the relative major of the G-sharp minor scale?
The relative major of G-sharp minor is B major.
In music theory, the relative major of a minor key is the major key that shares the same key signature. Both G-sharp minor and B major have five sharps in their key signatures. G♯ natural minor has the same notes as the key of B major, only the scale begins and ends on G♯.
What’s the difference between G-sharp natural, melodic, and harmonic minor scales?
To create a natural minor scale, use the following pattern of whole steps and half steps:
WHOLE-HALF-WHOLE-WHOLE-HALF-WHOLE-WHOLE
To create a melodic minor scale, start with the natural minor scale, and then raise the sixth and seventh tones of the scale. The pattern of whole and half steps looks like this:
WHOLE-HALF-WHOLE-WHOLE-WHOLE-WHOLE-HALF
When playing a melodic minor scale on the piano, play the melodic minor notes going up, and then the natural minor notes going down.
To create a harmonic minor scale, once again start with the natural minor scale and raise the seventh tone by one half step. This seventh tone will always be raised whether you’re playing the scale up or down. The pattern of whole steps and half steps looks like this:
WHOLE-HALF-WHOLE-WHOLE-HALF-AUG 2nd-HALF
Notice that raising only the seventh tone of the scale creates a whole plus half step stretch between the sixth and the seventh notes of the scale. This interval is known as an augmented 2nd, which sounds the same as a minor 3rd. Having this larger interval in a scale that otherwise has only whole and half steps is the reason harmonic minor sounds unusual.
How do you play the G-sharp natural minor scale on piano?
Right-hand placement for the G♯ minor scale when coming up the scale:
3 on G♯
4 on A♯
Pass the thumb under
1 on B
2 on C♯
3 on D♯
Pass the thumb under
1 on E
2 on F♯
3 on G♯
Left-hand placement for the G♯ minor scale:
3 on G♯
2 on A♯
1 on B
Cross the 3rd finger over
3 on C♯
2 on D♯
1 on E
Cross the 4th finger over
4 on F♯
3 on G♯
When coming down the G♯ minor scale, simply reverse the finger order like this:
Right hand:
3 on G♯
2 on F♯
1 on E
Cross the 3rd finger over
3 on D♯
2 on C♯
1 on B
Cross the 4th finger over
4 on A♯
3 on G♯
Left hand:
3 on G♯
4 on F♯
Pass the thumb under
1 on E
2 on D♯
3 on C♯
Pass the thumb under
1 on B
2 on A♯
3 on G♯
The fingerings for the right hand will be the same for the G♯ melodic and harmonic minor scales, but the fingerings for the left hand will be different. For G♯ melodic and harmonic minor, the left hand will cross finger 4 over onto C♯ and then end with finger 3 on G♯.
To see the fingerings for all minor scales, download our free Minor Scales Fingering Guide!
Remember to play smoothly and evenly, and practice slowly at first to get comfortable with the fingerings and the sharps in the scale. As you become more confident, gradually increase your speed.
Chords in the key of G-sharp minor: piano tips
Here are the chords based on each note of the G-sharp minor scale:
G♯m (i): G♯ – B – D♯
A♯dim (ii°): A♯ – C♯ – E
B major (III): B – D♯ – F♯
C♯m (iv): C♯ – E – G♯
D♯m (v): D♯ – F♯ – A♯ **If you use the G♯ harmonic minor scale, you V chord is D♯ Major (D♯ – F – A♯).
E major (VI): E – G♯ – B
F♯ major (VII): F♯ – A♯ – C♯ **If you use the G♯ harmonic minor scale, you vii chord is F diminished (F – A♯ – C♯).
These chords are formed by adding a third and a fifth on top of each scale degree. Here are the chords written out in root position, but remember: you can play the notes of a triad in any orientation and still have the same chord.
Songs to play on the piano in the key of G-sharp minor
There are not a lot of piano songs in the key of G♯ minor, but if you’re an advanced pianist and want to sharpen your piano skills, here are three challenging classical pieces in G♯ minor to try. Even if you’re not ready to tackle these, you can still enjoy listening to them!
Chopin Etude in G sharp minor, Op. 25 No. 6
J.S. Bach Prelude and Fugue in G sharp minor
We hope you’ve had fun exploring the G-sharp minor piano scale! To learn more about minor scales and how to play them, check out Hoffman Academy’s Minor Scales Fingering Guide.
Want to learn piano? Try your first Hoffman Academy lesson today!