G♯ Harmonic Minor Scale on Guitar: Notes, Shapes and Positions

The G♯ harmonic minor scale is G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E and F𝄪. Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7, a natural minor with the seventh raised to F𝄪. Start with the root on the low E string at the 4th fret, then learn the five positions below, from the Gm shape at the 1st fret up the neck.

Keys

G♯ Harmonic Minor Scale: 5 Positions

8Cm shape
11Am shape
1Gm shape
4Em shape
6Dm shape

CAGED Chords — G♯m

8Position 1
11Position 2
1Position 3
4Position 4
6Position 5

Triads — G♯m

Root position

8C shape
11A shape
1G shape
4E shape

Notes and formula

Degree12♭345♭67
NoteG♯A♯BC♯D♯EF𝄪

G♯ minor has 5 sharps (G♯, A♯, C♯ and D♯). The harmonic minor keeps that key signature and adds one accidental, the raised seventh, F𝄪, written into the music each time it appears.

It's the same pitch as A♭: also written A♭ minor (7 flats). This page uses G♯ because it needs fewer accidentals, so every note is spelled with one letter each (G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E and F♯).

F𝄪 is a double sharp: the same fret as G, but written on the seventh letter so each letter appears once.

The G♯ harmonic minor scale across the whole neck

Every G♯ harmonic minor scale note from the nut to the 15th fret: E on the low E string, fret 0; F double sharp on the low E string, fret 3; G sharp (root) on the low E string, fret 4; A sharp on the low E string, fret 6; B on the low E string, fret 7; C sharp on the low E string, fret 9; D sharp on the low E string, fret 11; E on the low E string, fret 12; F double sharp on the low E string, fret 15; A sharp on the A string, fret 1; B on the A string, fret 2; C sharp on the A string, fret 4; D sharp on the A string, fret 6; E on the A string, fret 7; F double sharp on the A string, fret 10; G sharp (root) on the A string, fret 11; A sharp on the A string, fret 13; B on the A string, fret 14; D sharp on the D string, fret 1; E on the D string, fret 2; F double sharp on the D string, fret 5; G sharp (root) on the D string, fret 6; A sharp on the D string, fret 8; B on the D string, fret 9; C sharp on the D string, fret 11; D sharp on the D string, fret 13; E on the D string, fret 14; F double sharp on the G string, fret 0; G sharp (root) on the G string, fret 1; A sharp on the G string, fret 3; B on the G string, fret 4; C sharp on the G string, fret 6; D sharp on the G string, fret 8; E on the G string, fret 9; F double sharp on the G string, fret 12; G sharp (root) on the G string, fret 13; A sharp on the G string, fret 15; B on the B string, fret 0; C sharp on the B string, fret 2; D sharp on the B string, fret 4; E on the B string, fret 5; F double sharp on the B string, fret 8; G sharp (root) on the B string, fret 9; A sharp on the B string, fret 11; B on the B string, fret 12; C sharp on the B string, fret 14; E on the high e string, fret 0; F double sharp on the high e string, fret 3; G sharp (root) on the high e string, fret 4; A sharp on the high e string, fret 6; B on the high e string, fret 7; C sharp on the high e string, fret 9; D sharp on the high e string, fret 11; E on the high e string, fret 12; F double sharp on the high e string, fret 15.

G♯ Harmonic Minor scale, frets 0–15. Roots (G♯) in green.

The root, G♯, sits on the low E string at fret 4 and on the A string at fret 11. Those are the anchors every position is built around.

Four of the six open strings belong to G♯ harmonic minor (E, G, B and high e), so they can ring against fretted notes; the others will clash.

Position by position: Gm shape from the 1st fret; Em shape from the 4th fret; Dm shape from the 6th fret; Cm shape from the 8th fret; Am shape from the 11th fret.

Chords in G♯ harmonic minor

The raised F𝄪 turns the fifth chord major: D♯ (D♯, F𝄪 and A♯), or D♯7 with the C♯ added, which pulls strongly back to G♯m.

The full set of chords is i G♯m, ii° A♯°, III+ B+, iv C♯m, V D♯, VI E and vii° F𝄪°.

Played from its fifth note, D♯, the same notes give D♯ Phrygian dominant, the sound of a lot of flamenco and metal over a D♯ chord.

To learn it, play the Gm shape from the 1st fret slowly, saying each note name, then link it to the next position up. Land on G♯ at the end of each run, and you'll hear the scale settle on its root.

G♯ Harmonic Minor scale FAQs

Which notes make up the G♯ harmonic minor scale?

G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E and F𝄪. The formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7, with the raised seventh, F𝄪.

What is the V chord in G♯ harmonic minor?

D♯, a major chord (D♯, F𝄪 and A♯). The raised seventh, F𝄪, is its third.

Where do I play the G♯ harmonic minor scale on guitar?

Start from the root on the low E string at the 4th fret. The Gm shape from the 1st fret is the lowest of the five positions, and the other four continue up the neck to the 12th fret and beyond.

Learn more

The harmonic minor scale on guitar explains how the scale is built and how to use it, and the guitar scale lessons set out what to learn next. The scale library has every scale in every key.