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#, B, C#, D#, E, G. 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 G#mMaj7, A#m7b5, B+maj7, C#m7, D#7, Emaj7, Go7. 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#, B, C#, D#, E, G
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
G♯mMaj7 — A♯m7♭5 — B+maj7 — C♯m7 — D♯7 — Emaj7 — Go7
How to Play G# Harmonic Minor on Bass
On bass, locate G# on the E string at fret 4. 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 4 sharps (G#, A#, C#, D#). Its relative major is B 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#-B, 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: G#mMaj7 - C#m7 - D#7 - G#mMaj7 (I-IV-V-I) or G#mMaj7 - A#m7b5 - C#m7 - D#7 for a more stepwise movement.
Bass Tips
On bass, use the G# Harmonic Minor scale to build walking bass lines by targeting chord tones on strong beats and using scale tones as approach notes. This is the foundation of functional bass playing.
The G# Harmonic Minor scale contains 7 notes (G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E, G). 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.