G♯ natural minor
Five sharps, F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯. Seven notes: G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F♯. Try the key’s seven chords in different places on the neck. Press a shape to hear it and see its notes.
Across one chord in different positions. Down the chords in one position. | ||||
| iMainG♯mG♯ · B · D♯ | ||||
| ii°A♯°A♯ · C♯ · E | ||||
| IIIMainBB · D♯ · F♯ | ||||
| ivC♯mC♯ · E · G♯ | ||||
| vD♯mD♯ · F♯ · A♯ | ||||
| VIMainEE · G♯ · B | ||||
| VIIMainF♯F♯ · A♯ · C♯ |
Sounds good
Three patterns to try
Walk up to C♯m. Strum G♯m, pick A♯ and B on the way up, land on C♯m. Listen to how the bass connects the chords.
Triads on the top three strings. Three notes, two places, all G♯m. Try them when a full six-string chord feels too busy.
- LowFret 4
- HighFrets 7–9
Same chords, higher. The four main chords in frets 1 to 4, then again in frets 6 to 9. Listen to how the higher voicings change the sound.
Exercises in G♯ minor
Four drills, with a click
Play along with the metronome. The neck above highlights each step.
- Four chords in one positionG♯m – B – E – F♯ without leaving frets 3 to 7.70 bpmLevel 1
- Climb with one chordG♯m in all four places, low to high. Hear it brighten.60 bpmLevel 1
- Walk up to C♯mStrum G♯m, then walk the bass A♯ – B into C♯m.90 bpmLevel 2
- Scale, then chordsPlay the scale in frets 6 to 9, then the four chords there.70 bpmLevel 2
Why five sharps
C♯ minor with A raised
- G♯
- A♯
- B
- C♯
- D♯
- E
- F♯
- G♯
- A
- B
- C♯
- D♯
- E
- F♯
G♯ minor is C♯ minor with A raised to A♯.
Harmonic minor
Harmonic minor change
Raising the seventh to F𝄪 changes D♯m to D♯ major on the fifth degree.