G# Minor

Key Signature

PropertyValue
TonicG#
ModeMinor
Accidentals5 sharps
Key Signature Notes F#, C#, G#, D#, A#

G# minor has five sharps and is enharmonically equivalent to Ab minor. It is used in orchestral and keyboard literature when a sharp-based spelling is preferred.

Diatonic Chords

The seven diatonic chords of G# Minor — each built on a scale degree using only the notes of the key signature:

DegreeRoman NumeralChord TypeChord
1 i Minor G# Minor
2 ii° Diminished A# Diminished
3 III Major B Major
4 iv Minor C# Minor
5 v Minor D# Minor
6 VI Major E Major
7 VII Major F# Major

Related Keys

Relative Major
B Major — shares the same key signature.
Parallel Major
Ab Major — same tonic, different key signature.

See all key relationships on the Circle of Fifths.

Scales in G# Minor

Common scales built from the G# tonic:

Transposing Instrument Context

Sharp-key signatures like G# Minor are comfortable for open-string instruments (guitar, violin). Bb instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone) read in A# minor to sound G# Minor. Eb instruments (alto saxophone, Eb clarinet) read in E# minor to sound G# Minor. Standard guitar tuning (E A D G B E) resonates naturally in G# Minor.

Related References