Gb Melodic minor

Minor with raised 6th and 7th degrees relative to natural minor; it keeps the leading tone without an augmented 2nd.

Octaves

Musical context

How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.

Theory

General info

Name
Gb Melodic minor
Family
Melodic scales
Note count
7
Step formula
W – H – W – W – W – W – H
Numeric formula
0-2-1-2-2-2-2-1

Notes & degrees

1Gbroot
2Abmajor 2nd
b3Aminor 3rd
4Cbperfect 4th
5Dbperfect 5th
6Ebmajor 6th
7Fmajor 7th

Construction

Overview
Minor with raised 6th and 7th degrees relative to natural minor; it keeps the leading tone without an augmented 2nd.
Application in music
In jazz theory it is the parent scale of Lydian dominant and altered modes.
Interval formula
Gb
W
Ab
H
A
W
Cb
W
Db
W
Eb
W
F

Chords by degree

Tensions & resolutions

Stable degrees

IGbpoint of resttonic
IIIAdefines modal qualitythird
VDbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth

Typical resolutions & tensions

VIIFF
IGbGb
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIAA
IVCbCb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IGbGb
IIAbAb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.

This scale on guitar 🎸

See how Gb Melodic minor looks on guitar.

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Circle of fifths

The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.

CAmGEmDBmAF#mEC#mBG#mF#D#mDbBbmAbFmEbCmBbGmFDmF#major
Relative key
Dominant
Subdominant
Key signature
6 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#)

Connections

Practice

Keyboard Trainer

Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.

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Frequently Asked Questions