The G♭ major scale has six flats — B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, and C♭ — and is enharmonically the same pitch as F# major. The choice between G♭ and F# usually comes down to which key the surrounding music is in.
Interval pattern
The Gb major scale is built from this fixed pattern of whole steps (W) and half steps (H):
- Wwhole
- Wwhole
- Hhalf
- Wwhole
- Wwhole
- Wwhole
- Hhalf
Every major scale uses this same pattern, transposed to start on a different tonic. The half-steps fall between scale degrees 3–4 and 7–8.
Scale degrees and intervals
Each note of the scale, with its scale-degree name and interval from the root:
| Degree | Note | Interval from root | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gb | Root | Tonic |
| 2 | Ab | M2 | Supertonic |
| 3 | Bb | M3 | Mediant |
| 4 | Cb | P4 | Subdominant |
| 5 | Db | P5 | Dominant |
| 6 | Eb | M6 | Submediant |
| 7 | F | M7 | Subtonic / Leading tone |
In melody and improvisation
G♭ major appears in jazz standards (e.g., the bridge of "Lady Bird") and in romantic-era piano literature. On piano, the all-black-key topography of G♭ is genuinely beautiful — the hand floats across the keyboard.
Relative key
The Gb major scale shares its notes with Eb minor. Same seven pitches, different tonal centre — when a piece moves between them, no accidentals change.
Common mistakes
The unusual flat here is C♭ — same pitch as B natural, but spelled C♭ to keep every letter in the scale. Beginners write B and end up with two B-named notes.
Drill it
The Interval Trainer gives you a root note and an interval, and asks you to name the result. Practising the intervals of the Gb major scale is the fastest way to internalise it as a melodic shape rather than a memorised string of notes.
Open the Interval Trainer →Or drill key signaturesRelated
Frequently asked
- What are the notes in the G♭ major scale?
- G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F.
- How many flats does G♭ major have?
- Six: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, and C♭.
- What is the relative minor of G♭ major?
- E♭ minor.