Common
About the G flat Natural Minor scale
G flat Natural Minor is used for ballads, cinematic themes and emotional rock and pop. Think of it as the classic sad, serious minor sound. It is G♭ Dorian with the sixth lowered.
Its notes are G♭, A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭♭, and F♭. The formula is W H W W H W W. It is the sixth mode of B♭♭ Major.
Also called the Aeolian mode, Melodic Minor Descending, and Asavari. The descending form of the melodic minor scale uses these same notes.
G♭ Natural Minor draws three black keys from the piano, G♭, A♭, and D♭.
Chords in the key of G flat Natural Minor
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
G flat minor over B double flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A flat diminished over C flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B double flat over D flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C flat minor over E double flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D flat minor over F flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E double flat over G flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F flat over A flat (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in G flat Natural Minor
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
G flat minor seven
A flat minor seven flat five
B double flat major seven
C flat minor seven
D flat minor seven
E double flat major seven
F flat seven
Progressions in G flat Natural Minor
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Common
Notes and intervals
| 1 | GbG♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | AbA♭ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | BbbB♭♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | CbC♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | DbD♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | EbbE♭♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | FbF♭ | Minor 7th |
| Steps | W H W W H W W |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-1-2-2-1-2-2 |
| Degrees | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | G flat | A flat | B double flat | C flat | D flat | E double flat | F flat | G flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Practicing it
The right hand changes position on B♭♭ and E♭♭, where the thumb crosses under. C♭ and F♭ are the left hand's thumb notes. G♭, A♭, and D♭ are the black keys the long fingers take, with the fourth finger anchoring on A♭, which is what keeps the thumb clear of them.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Natural Minor in other keys
C Natural Minor scaleD flat Natural Minor scaleD Natural Minor scaleE flat Natural Minor scaleE Natural Minor scaleF Natural Minor scaleG Natural Minor scaleA flat Natural Minor scaleA Natural Minor scaleB flat Natural Minor scaleB Natural Minor scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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