About the G sharp Melodic Minor Ascending scale
G sharp Melodic Minor Ascending is used for jazz, film scores and classical melodies that rise out of a minor key. Think of it as a minor scale with a major sixth and seventh on the way up, smooth and modern. It is G♯ Major with the third lowered.
Its notes are G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯, and F♯♯. The formula is W H W W W W H.
Also called Jazz Minor and Melodic Minor. Jazz players usually call this scale the jazz minor scale.
G♯ Melodic Minor Ascending uses four black keys on the piano, G♯, A♯, C♯, and D♯.
Chords in the key of G sharp Melodic Minor Ascending
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i G sharp minor
G sharp minor over B (1st inversion)
ii A sharp minor
A sharp minor over C sharp (1st inversion)
III+ B augmented
B augmented over D sharp (1st inversion)
IV C sharp
C sharp over E sharp (1st inversion)
V D sharp
D sharp over F double sharp (1st inversion)
vi° E sharp diminished
E sharp diminished over G sharp (1st inversion)
vii° F double sharp diminished
F double sharp diminished over A sharp (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in G sharp Melodic Minor Ascending
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i G sharp minor major seven
G sharp minor major seven
ii A sharp minor seven
A sharp minor seven
III+ B major seven sharp five
B major seven sharp five
IV C sharp seven
C sharp seven
V D sharp seven
D sharp seven
vi° E sharp minor seven flat five
E sharp minor seven flat five
vii° F double sharp minor seven flat five
F double sharp minor seven flat five
Progressions in G sharp Melodic Minor Ascending
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | G#G♯ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | A#A♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | BB | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | C#C♯ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | D#D♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | E#E♯ | Major 6th |
| 7 | F##F♯♯ | Major 7th |
| Steps | W H W W W W H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-1-2-2-2-2-1 |
| Degrees | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | G sharp | A sharp | B | C sharp | D sharp | E sharp | F double sharp | G sharp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Practicing it
In the right hand, the thumb comes under on B and E♯. The left hand crosses over its thumb on B and F♯♯. Every black key here, G♯, A♯, C♯, and D♯, sits under a long finger, with the fourth finger anchoring on A♯, so the thumb never has to reach onto the raised group.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Melodic Minor Ascending in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.