G♯ Minor
Key Signature
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tonic | G♯ |
| Mode | Minor |
| Accidentals | 5 sharps |
| Key Signature Notes | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ |
G♯ minor has five sharps and is enharmonically equivalent to A♭ 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:
| Degree | Roman Numeral | Chord Type | Chord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- A♭ 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). B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone) read in A♯ minor to sound G♯ Minor. E♭ instruments (alto saxophone, E♭ clarinet) read in E♯ minor to sound G♯ Minor. Standard guitar tuning (E A D G B E) resonates naturally in G♯ Minor.