G-sharp (musical note)

${ \new Staff \with{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 } << \time 2/1 \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f { \clef bass gis1_G-sharp \clef treble gis' } >> }$

G♯ (G-sharp) or sol dièse is the ninth semitone of the solfège. In the German pitch nomenclature, it is known as gis.^[1]

It lies a chromatic semitone above G and a diatonic semitone below A, thus being enharmonic to la bémol or A♭ (A-flat).

When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of the G♯ semitone is approximately 415.305 Hz.^[2] See pitch (music) for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.

The notes A♭ and G♯ are the only notes to have only one enharmonic, since they cannot be reached in any other way by a single or double sharp or a single or double flat from any of the seven white notes.

In the medieval period the musical note G# was known as gesolreut within the Guidonian hand hexachord system.^[3]

Designation by octave

Scientific designation	Helmholtz designation	Octave name	Frequency (Hz)	MIDI note number
G♯₋₁	G♯͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵G♯ or GGGG♯	Subsubcontra	12.978	8
G♯₀	G♯͵͵ or ͵͵G♯ or GGG♯	Subcontra	25.957	20
G♯₁	G♯͵ or ͵G♯ or GG♯	Contra	51.913	32
G♯₂	G♯	Great	103.826	44
G♯₃	g♯	Small	207.652	56
G♯₄	g♯′	One-lined	415.305	68
G♯₅	g♯′′	Two-lined	830.609	80
G♯₆	g♯′′′	Three-lined	1661.219	92
G♯₇	g♯′′′′	Four-lined	3322.438	104
G♯₈	g♯′′′′′	Five-lined	6644.875	116
G♯₉	g♯′′′′′′	Six-lined	13289.75	N/A
G♯₁₀	g♯′′′′′′′	Seven-lined	26579.501	N/A

Scales

Common scales beginning on G♯

G♯ major: G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯ F G♯
G♯ natural minor: G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯
G♯ harmonic minor: G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F G♯
G♯ melodic minor ascending: G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯ F G♯
G♯ melodic minor descending: G♯ F♯ E D♯ C♯ B A♯ G♯

Diatonic scales

G♯ Ionian: G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯ F G♯
G♯ Dorian: G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯
G♯ Phrygian: G♯ A B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯
G♯ Lydian: G♯ A♯ B♯ C D♯ E♯ F G♯
G♯ Mixolydian: G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯
G♯ Aeolian: G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯
G♯ Locrian: G♯ A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯

Jazz melodic minor

G♯ ascending melodic minor: G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯ F G♯
G♯ Dorian ♭2: G♯ A B C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯
G♯ Lydian augmented: G♯ A♯ B♯ C D E♯ F G♯
G♯ Lydian dominant: G♯ A♯ B♯ C D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯
G♯ Mixolydian ♭6: G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯
G♯ Locrian ♮2: G♯ A♯ B C♯ D E F♯ G♯
G♯ altered: G♯ A B C D E F♯ G♯

References

^ "The names of keys in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish". Music Cataloging at Yale Language Tools. Yale University. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
^ Suits, B. H. (1998). "Physics of Music Notes - Scales: Just vs Equal Temperament". MTU.edu. Michigan Technological University. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
^ "Gesolreut". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. 2001. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.10989.

[Yale-1] "The names of keys in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish". Music Cataloging at Yale Language Tools. Yale University. Retrieved 2016-09-20.

[2] Suits, B. H. (1998). "Physics of Music Notes - Scales: Just vs Equal Temperament". MTU.edu. Michigan Technological University. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2024.

[3] "Gesolreut". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. 2001. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.10989.

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