G Harmonic Minor Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagram
G Harmonic Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The G Harmonic Minor scale is a variation of the minor scale that introduces a strong leading tone. On Bass, the notes are G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F#. It has a distinctive exotic or Middle Eastern flavor due to the wide gap between its upper notes, and is used to provide the harmonic tension necessary for classical minor-key resolutions. It is a staple in neo-classical metal and flamenco. The diatonic chords of G Harmonic Minor are GmMaj7, Am7b5, Bb+maj7, Cm7, D7, Ebmaj7, F#o7. Commonly used in Metal, Classical, Flamenco, Film Scores, Neoclassical. Notable players include Yngwie Malmsteen, Ritchie Blackmore, Johann Sebastian Bach. Use over m(Maj7), m7, dim7 chords. Essential for creating V7 → i resolutions in minor keys. The raised 7th provides the leading tone that natural minor lacks.
Notes: G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7
Formula: W-H-W-W-H-WH-H
Number of notes: 7
Diatonic Chords
GmMaj7 — Am7♭5 — B♭+maj7 — Cm7 — D7 — E♭maj7 — F♯o7
How to Play G Harmonic Minor on Bass
On bass, locate G on the E string at fret 3. Use a one-finger-per-fret approach starting from the root and span two to three strings. Keep your fretting hand relaxed and practice shifting between positions cleanly.
The G Harmonic Minor scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 2 flats), which is common in altered and exotic scales. Its relative major is Bb major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the G Harmonic Minor scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (G-Bb, A-C) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Try these progressions with the G Harmonic Minor scale: GmMaj7 - Cm7 - D7 - GmMaj7 (I-IV-V-I) or GmMaj7 - Am7b5 - Cm7 - D7 for a more stepwise movement.
Bass Tips
Practice the G Harmonic Minor scale on bass using only your index and ring fingers for a two-finger-per-string approach, then switch to one-finger-per-fret. Both techniques are essential for different musical situations.
The G Harmonic Minor scale contains 7 notes (G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for G Harmonic Minor
The G Harmonic Minor scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.