A# Harmonic Major Guitar Scale — Open G

Guitar scale in Open G tuning — fretboard diagram

A# Harmonic Major in Open G — Notes and Intervals

The A# Harmonic Major scale is a hybrid that combines the brightness of a major third with the sadness of a minor sixth. On Guitar, it contains the notes A#, C, D, D#, F, F#, A. It creates a unique bright-yet-sad tension that is common in film music to depict complex emotions that are not purely happy or sad. Commonly used in Film Scores, Classical, Jazz, Progressive. Notable players include Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, Bela Bartok. Use over Maj7, Maj7b6 contexts. The b6 adds an unexpected shadow to otherwise bright major passages.

Notes: A#, C, D, D#, F, F#, A

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7M

Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 b6 7

Formula: W-W-H-W-H-WH-H

Number of notes: 7

Tuning: Open G (D-G-D-G-B-D)

About Open G Tuning

Open G tuning (D-G-D-G-B-D) produces a G major chord when strummed open, making it the definitive tuning for slide guitar and delta blues. The tuning's natural consonance means that barring across any fret gives you a major chord, which is why it's been the backbone of blues and roots music for over a century.

From Robert Johnson to Keith Richards, Open G has shaped some of the most iconic music ever recorded. Keith Richards famously removes the low 6th string entirely in this tuning, creating his signature five-string sound on songs like 'Start Me Up' and 'Brown Sugar'. For slide players, Open G is essential — it allows clean, singing slide lines across all strings with minimal effort.

BluesSlide GuitarRockCountryFolkRoots

Notable artists: Keith Richards, Robert Johnson, Ry Cooder, Joni Mitchell, The Black Crowes

Best for: Slide guitar, delta blues, Keith Richards-style rock riffs, and open-string fingerpicking

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

← All Guitar scales in Open G tuning