STRINGSCALES

G harmonic major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F#, G, A, B, C, D, Eb at frets 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

A string: A, B, C, D, Eb, F#, G, A at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12

D string: D, Eb, F#, G, A, B, C, D at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

G string: G, A, B, C, D, Eb, F#, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12

B string: B, C, D, Eb, F#, G, A, B at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12

High E string: F#, G, A, B, C, D, Eb at frets 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

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G harmonic major

The harmonic major scale is a major scale with a flat 6th: bright below, shadowed above, with harmonic minor's augmented 2nd gap relocated between the 6th and 7th. It lets a major key borrow the minor iv chord without leaving the scale, a favorite bittersweet cadence from Schubert to the Beatles. Its modes include the lydian diminished scale.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

G

I

Gmaj
A

ii°

Adim
B

iii

Bm
C

iv

Cm
D

V

Dmaj
E♭

bVI+

E♭aug
F♯

vii°

F♯dim

Same notes, different mode

G harmonic major uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

C lydian diminished

harmonic major in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Play G major, then flatten only the 6th (Eb): that single change is harmonic major, brightness with one shadowed degree.
  • Its classic use is the minor iv chord in a major key: over IV minor in G, this scale is the exact fit.
  • Lean on the bVI (Eb) to V half step at cadences, the borrowed-from-minor sigh inside a major key.
  • The augmented 2nd between bVI (Eb) and VII gives melodies an exotic lift right before the leading tone resolves to G.

How to play G harmonic major on guitar

Open G string is the root and the D and B strings sit a fifth and a third above, so four open strings ring inside the key. Low E and high E take roots at fret 3, which means the E-shape barre is the first box and it runs to fret 7. DM works as a genuine dominant. Ebaug fills the bVI+, so you get an augmented triad without leaving the key.

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