4.16 The G minor scale

In this chapter, you’ll learn how you can make the G minor scale by applying the sequence: whole - half - whole - whole - half - whole - whole, starting from G. You’ll also learn how to make the harmonic and melodic G minor scale. In the videos, I show how to play the G minor scale on the piano. In the ear training exercise, you’ll learn how to recognize an wrongly played note in the B flat major scale and the E and G minor scales.

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1. The structure of the G minor scale

Every minor scale consists of the following sequence: whole - half - whole - whole - half - whole - whole. When you apply this sequence starting from G, you get the tones G A Bb C D Eb F G.

 

Video

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Examples

Which tones will you get if you construct a minor scale, starting from G?

 

The G minor scale is comprised of the notes: G A Bb C D Eb F G..
The G minor scale has two flats: B flat and E flat.
This scale is also called the natural G minor scale.

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2. The G minor scale played on the piano

The G minor scale ascending and descending, played by the right hand over one and over two octaves.

 

The fingering of the G minor scale played with the right hand.

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The G minor scale ascending and descending, played by the left hand over one and over two octaves.

 

The fingering of the G minor scale played with the left hand.

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3. The structure of the harmonic G minor scale

In the harmonic minor scale, the seventh note is raised. When you apply this to the G minor scale, you get the tones G A Bb C D Eb F# G.

 

Video

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Examples

In the harmonic G minor scale, F, the seventh note, is raised to become a F#.

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4. The harmonic G minor scale played on the piano

The harmonic G minor scale ascending and descending, played by the right hand over one and over two octaves.

 

The fingering of the harmonic G minor scale played with the right hand.

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The harmonic G minor scale ascending and descending, played by the left hand over one and over two octaves.

 

The fingering of the harmonic G minor scale played with the left hand.

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5. The structure of the melodic G minor scale

In the melodic minor scale, the sixth and the seventh notes are both raised. When you apply this to the G minor scale, you get the tones G A Bb C D E F# G.

 

Video

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Examples

In the melodic G minor scale, Eb and F, the sixth and the seventh notes, are both raised and become E and F#.
Descending, the sixth and seventh tones of the melodic minor scale are often not raised, but played as the natural G minor scale.

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6. The melodic G minor scale played on the piano

The melodic G minor scale ascending, played by the right hand over one and over two octaves.

 

The fingering of the melodic G minor scale played with the right hand.

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The melodic G minor scale ascending, played by the left hand over one and over two octaves.

 

The fingering of the melodic G minor scale played with the left hand.

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7. Ear training

 

Practise

Ear Training exercise 4e: being able to hear a wrongly played note in the B flat major scale and the E and G minor scales.

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Example question

In the next scale a wrong note is played:

Which note is played incorrectly?

 

Practical steps

The notated scale is the harmonic G minor scale. Sing the scale being played to train your inner hearing abilties. Listen to how this scale differs from the harmonic major scale.

Answer: the wrong note being played is the second note, the F#.

The G minor scale

• The G minor scale is comprised of the notes G A Bb C D Eb F G.
• The G minor scale has two flats: B flat and E flat.
• In the harmonic G minor scale, F, the seventh note, is raised to become a F#.
• In the melodic G minor scale, Eb and F, the sixth and the seventh notes, are both raised and become E and F#.

Ear Training exercise 4e: being able to hear a wrongly played note in the B flat major scale and the E and G minor scales.

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