G Harmonic Major Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
G Harmonic Major Scale — Notes and Intervals
The G Harmonic Major scale is a hybrid that combines the brightness of a major third with the sadness of a minor sixth. On Ukulele, it contains the notes G, A, B, C, D, Eb, F#. 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: G, A, B, C, D, Eb, F#
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
How to Play G Harmonic Major on Ukulele
On ukulele, find G on the open strings or work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 7 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The G Harmonic Major scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 1 flat), which is common in altered and exotic scales. Its relative minor is Eb minor, which shares the same notes.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the G Harmonic Major scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on G to let the characteristic intervals of the Harmonic Major scale come through clearly.
Ukulele Tips
The compact fretboard of the ukulele makes the G Harmonic Major scale easy to visualize in a single position. Use this to your advantage by memorizing the scale shape relative to chord shapes you already know.
The G Harmonic Major scale contains 7 notes (G, A, B, C, D, Eb, F#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for G Harmonic Major
The G Harmonic Major 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.
Explore G Harmonic Major Further
- Harmonize the G Harmonic Major scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- G Harmonic Major on Guitar
- G Harmonic Major on Bass
- G Harmonic Major on Piano