Scales in the Key of F-Sharp or G-Flat

F-sharp major/minor and G-flat major/minor are essentially the same keys using the same pitches but can be named either way.

Click on the scale name for a diagram and explanation of each scale type:

F♯ and G♭ Major Scale | F♯ and G♭ Natural Minor Scale | F♯ and G♭ Harmonic Minor Scale | F♯ and G♭ Melodic Minor Scale | F♯ and G♭ Major Pentatonic Scale | F♯ and G♭ Minor Pentatonic Scale | F♯ and G♭ Major Blues Scale | F♯ and G♭ Minor Blues Scale

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F♯ AND G♭ MAJOR SCALE

F♯ Major Scale

The F-sharp major scale contains seven notes and starts and ends on F♯. Major scales are arranged in a specific pattern of whole and half steps: W-W-H-W-W-W-H.

G♭ Major Scale

The G♭ major scale contains seven notes and starts and ends on G♭. Major scales are arranged in a specific pattern of whole and half steps: W-W-H-W-W-W-H.

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F♯ AND G♭ NATURAL MINOR SCALE

F♯ Natural Minor Scale

The F-sharp natural minor scale follows the key signature of its relative major: A major. In natural minor scales, there are no additional accidentals.

The relative major key of F-sharp minor is A major. Therefore, F-sharp minor has three sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯).

TIP: To find the relative major key, count up three half-steps from the minor key’s root note.

G♭ Natural Minor Scale

The G-flat natural minor scale follows the key signature of its relative major: A major (technically, B double flat major). In natural minor scales, there are no additional accidentals.

The relative major key of G-flat minor is B double flat major. Therefore, G-flat minor has five flats and two double-flats (A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭, B♭♭, E♭♭).

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F♯ AND G♭ HARMONIC MINOR SCALE

F♯ Harmonic Minor Scale

Harmonic minor scales follow the key signature of the relative major key and raise the seventh note of the scale by one half-step.

The relative major key of F-sharp minor is A major and the seventh note of F-sharp minor is E. Therefore, F-sharp harmonic minor has three sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯) and E is raised to E♯.

G♭ Harmonic Minor Scale

The relative major key of G-flat minor is B double flat major and the seventh note of G-flat minor is F♭. Therefore, G-sharp harmonic minor has five flats and two double-flats (A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭) and F♭ is raised to F.

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F♯ AND G♭ MELODIC MINOR SCALE

F♯ Melodic Minor Scale – Ascending

In melodic minor scales, we raise the sixth and seventh notes up one half-step when ascending and lower them back down when descending. Melodic minor scales follow the key signature of the scale’s relative major.

The relative major key of F-sharp minor is A major. Therefore, F-sharp minor has three sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯) and D and E are the sixth and seventh notes. We raise D and E to D♯ and E♯ when ascending the melodic minor scale, and we lower them back to D and E when descending.

F♯ Melodic Minor Scale – Descending

G♭ Melodic Minor Scale – Ascending

In melodic minor scales, we raise the sixth and seventh notes up one half-step when ascending and lower them back down when descending. Melodic minor scales follow the key signature of the scale’s relative major.

The relative major key of G-flat minor is B double flat major. Therefore, G-flat minor has five flats and two double flats (A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭, B♭♭, E♭♭) and E♭♭ and F♭ are the sixth and seventh notes. We raise E♭♭ and F♭ to E♭ and F when ascending the melodic minor scale, and we lower them back to E♭♭ and F♭ when descending.

G♭ Melodic Minor Scale – Descending

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F♯ AND G♭ MAJOR PENTATONIC SCALE

F♯ Major Pentatonic Scale

The F-sharp major pentatonic is a five-note scale built on the following major scale degrees: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.

G♭ Major Pentatonic Scale

The G-flat major pentatonic is a five-note scale built on the following major scale degrees: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.

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F♯ AND G♭ MINOR PENTATONIC SCALE

F♯ Minor Pentatonic Scale

The F-sharp minor pentatonic scale is a five-note scale built on the following minor scale degrees: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7.

You can also think of the F♯ minor pentatonic as being built on the following major scale degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7.

G♭ Minor Pentatonic Scale

The G-flat minor pentatonic scale is a five-note scale built on the following minor scale degrees: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7.

You can also think of the G♭ minor pentatonic as being built on the following major scale degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7.

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F♯ AND G♭ MAJOR BLUES SCALE

F♯ Major Blues Scale

The F-sharp major blues scale is built on the following major scale degrees: 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 5, 6.

G♭ Major Blues Scale

The G-flat major blues scale is built on the following major scale degrees: 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 5, 6.

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F♯ AND G♭ MINOR BLUES SCALE

F♯ Minor Blues Scale

The F-sharp minor blues scale is built on the following minor scale degrees: 1, 3, 4, ♭5, 5, 7.

You can also think of the F-sharp minor blues scale as being built on the following major scale degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5, ♭7.

G♭ Minor Blues Scale

The G-flat minor blues scale is built on the following minor scale degrees: 1, 3, 4, ♭5, 5, 7

You can also think of the G-flat minor blues scale as being built on the following major scale degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5, ♭7.

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