The G Minor scale is a 7 note scale that uses the following notes:
G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F and G
![The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (1) The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (1)](https://i0.wp.com/jadebultitude.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/G-natural-minor-scale-with-note-names-1024x239.png)
The scale is usually written as starting and ending on G and it can be repeating at higher or lower octaves. G Minor is a diatonic scale, which means that it is in a key, in this case the key of G Minor!
The Natural Minor Scale
There are three types of minor scale: the natural minor, harmonic minor and melodic minor. In this post we will stick to G Natural Minor Scale, but you learn aboutG Harmonic MinorandG Melodic Minorin our other articles.
How is the G Natural Minor scale created?
All Natural Minor scales follow a specific pattern of tones and semitones (steps and half steps). The tone pattern is:
Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone
If we take the start at a C and follow the pattern we will get the C Natural Minor Scale. To create the G Natural Minor scale, follow the tone/semitone pattern starting on the note G.
Whichever note you start on, you will always achieve the minor scale starting on this note.
![The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (2) The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (2)](https://i0.wp.com/jadebultitude.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/G-natural-minor-scale-with-tones-and-semitones-labelled-1024x260.png)
G Minor Scale on the Piano
As you can see, if we were to play this scale on the piano diagram we use two black keys for the Bb and Eb.
![The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (3) The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (3)](https://i0.wp.com/jadebultitude.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/G-natural-minor-scale-on-piano-with-keys-named-1024x335.png)
To play this scale on the piano use the fingers written below.
![The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (4) The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (4)](https://i0.wp.com/jadebultitude.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/G-natural-minor-scale-piano-fingering-right-hand-1024x335.png)
G Minor Scale on the Guitar
To play the G Natural Minor scale on the guitar use the tab below.
![The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (5) The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (5)](https://i0.wp.com/jadebultitude.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/G-natural-minor-scale-guitar-tab-two-octaves-1024x404.png)
Degrees of the Scale: G Minor
Each note in the G Minor scale has a position that we call the degree of the scale. The first note of the scale is called the ‘tonic’ note.
![The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (6) The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (6)](https://i0.wp.com/jadebultitude.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/G-natural-minor-scale-with-degrees-of-the-scale-1024x209.png)
Key Signature for G Minor
Rather than writing the flat signs on the individual notes, we can now make use of the key signature. G Minor is the relative minor of B flat Major. You can work this out because G is the sixth note of Bb Major.
This means that they both share a key signature and have two flats, Bb and Eb.
![The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (7) The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (7)](https://i0.wp.com/jadebultitude.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/G-natural-minor-scale-key-signature-treble-clef.png)
Here is the scale written out in full using the key signature.
![The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (8) The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (8)](https://i0.wp.com/jadebultitude.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/G-natural-minor-scale-one-octave-with-key-signature-treble-slef-1024x166.png)
G Minor Scale in Different Clefs
Treble Clef
Below is the G Natural Minor Scale written out in the treble clef, both ascending and descending.
![The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (9) The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (9)](https://i0.wp.com/jadebultitude.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/G-natural-minor-scale-treble-clef-ascending-and-descending-1024x371.png)
Bass Clef
Below is the G Natural Minor Scale written out in the bass clef, both ascending and descending.
![The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (10) The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (10)](https://i0.wp.com/jadebultitude.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/G-natural-minor-scale-bass-clef-ascending-and-descending-1024x323.png)
Alto Clef
Below is the G Natural Minor Scale written out in the alto clef, both ascending and descending.
![The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (11) The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (11)](https://i0.wp.com/jadebultitude.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/G-natural-minor-scale-alto-clef-ascending-and-descending-1024x323.png)
Tenor Clef
Below is the G Natural Minor Scale written out in the tenor clef, both ascending and descending.
![The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (12) The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (12)](https://i0.wp.com/jadebultitude.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/G-natural-minor-scale-tenor-clef-ascending-and-descending-1024x342.png)
What is the Relative Major of G Minor
![The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (13) The G Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (13)](https://i0.wp.com/jadebultitude.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/circle-of-fifths-g-natural-minor-and-b-flat-major-highlighted-942x1024.png)
As you can see from the circle of fifths diagram G Minor is the relative minor of Bb Major. Or to say it another way: Bb Major is the relative major of G Minor. This means that Bb Major and G Minor share the same key signature and have two flats, B flat and E flat.
Both scales are identical except for the fact that G Minor starts on a ‘G’ and Bb Major starts on a ‘Bb’.
What are the chords in the G Minor scale?
There are chords starting on each note of the G Minor Scale. To learn more, see our dedicated post onG Minor Chords.
What do we mean when we say a piece is ‘in the key of G Minor’?
If we say that a piece of music is in the key of G Minor, this means a few things:
- The key signature will have a Bb and Eb as the relative major is Bb major.
- The tonic (or root note) of the piece will be G natural. This note will sound the most stable in the whole piece.
- The piece will mostly use notes from this scale, these could be in any octave.
- The chords used will be those chords that are in G Minor.
What’s next….
- Learn more about the different types of minor scales with our complete guide.
- Learn about the circle of fifths and how it can help you better understand music theory.