Scale reference
G minor scale
G – A – B♭ – C – D – E♭ – F
The G minor scale runs G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F and then back to G. It follows the natural minor step pattern — tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone — which is what makes it minor rather than any other kind of scale.
It uses each letter name once, which is why it is written with 2 flats.
The notes
The step pattern
Every minor scale uses the same sequence of steps. Change the starting note and the pattern is what you keep.
- G1tone
- A2semi
- B♭3tone
- C4tone
- D5semi
- E♭6tone
- F7tone
- G8
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Name | Interval from G | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | Tonic | Perfect unison | 0 |
| 2 | A | Supertonic | Major second | 2 |
| 3 | B♭ | Mediant | Minor third | 3 |
| 4 | C | Subdominant | Perfect fourth | 5 |
| 5 | D | Dominant | Perfect fifth | 7 |
| 6 | E♭ | Submediant | Minor sixth | 8 |
| 7 | F | Subtonic | Minor seventh | 10 |
The other two minor forms
Minor comes in three forms. They share the first five notes and differ near the top.
| Form | Notes | Why it exists |
|---|---|---|
| Natural minor | G – A – B♭ – C – D – E♭ – F | The plain form, matching the key signature. |
| Harmonic minor | G – A – B♭ – C – D – E♭ – F♯ | Raises the seventh degree, restoring the leading tone. |
| Melodic minor (ascending) | G – A – B♭ – C – D – E – F♯ | Raises the sixth as well, smoothing the step-and-a-half gap. |
A piece in G minor will move between all three depending on what the harmony needs at that moment. See minor scales for how they are chosen.
Key signature
G minor is the scale of the key of G minor, which has 2 flats. The key page lists the seven chords built on these notes.