Gb Melodic Minor
G flat Melodic Minor scale for guitar.
The Gb Melodic Minor is a seven-note scale. Colored circles mark the tones in the fingerboard diagram, with darker color highlighting the root notes. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 2nd fret.
Gb Melodic Minor 2 octaves
Gb Melodic Minor full fretboard
Gb Melodic Minor with note names
Shape 1 (1st position) with fingerings
Shape 2 (4th position) with fingerings
Shape 3 (6th position) with fingerings
Shape 4 (8th position) with fingerings
Shape 5 (11th position) with fingerings
The scale displayed with its numeric formula, notes, intervals and scale degrees.
| Formula | Notes | Intervals | Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gb | Unison | Tonic |
| 2 | Ab | Major second | Supertonic |
| b3 | Bbb | Minor third | Mediant |
| 4 | Cb | Perfect fourth | Subdominant |
| 5 | Db | Perfect fifth | Dominant |
| 6 | Eb | Sixth | Submediant |
| 7 | F | Major seventh | Subtonic |
The third degree is written as Bbb, which is the same as A. The fourth degree is written as Cb, which is the same as B. A practice in a scale notation is to not include the same letter twice, if it can be avoided.
The interval formula (2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1) can be expound into specific notes of the scale.
| Notes (ascending) | Interval |
|---|---|
| Gb-Ab | M2 |
| Gb-A | m3 |
| Gb-B | P4 |
| Gb-Db | P5 |
| Gb-Eb | M6 |
| Gb-F | M7 |
| Notes (descending) | Interval |
|---|---|
| Gb-F | m2 |
| Gb-Eb | m3 |
| Gb-Db | P4 |
| Gb-B | P5 |
| Gb-A | M6 |
| Gb-Ab | m7 |
Abbreviations are used: M / m stands for major / minor and P stands for perfect.
The main chords that are related to this scale are the following:
- Gbm
- Am
- Aaug
- B
- Db
- Ebdim
- Edim
The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the Gb Melodic Minor scale in which Gbm is the tonic triad.
The G flat Melodic Minor scale consists of seven notes. These can be described as intervals, as semi-notes or steps on the guitar fingerboard, written as 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 from the first note to the next octave.
This scale has an unusual aspect: it ascends as described above but descends as the Natural Minor. For that reason, it is also known as the Ascending Melodic Minor.
The Gb Melodic Minor is one of three Gb Minor scales, the other two are Gb Natural Minor and Gb Harmonic Minor.
The scale is identical with the Major scale apart from the minor third. Because of this, it is sometimes referred to as Ionian b3 scale.
Start the audio and play along! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.
Normal tempo:If you already know the G flat Natural Minor, the equivalent Melodic Minor is distinguished with the raised sixth and seventh intervals.
Also beneficial for learning this scale is to observe the note steps, starting from the root: whole, half, whole, whole, whole, whole, half
Gb Melodic Minor scale first shape ascending.
The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.