G♭ (musical note)
G♭ (G-flat; also called Ges or sol bémol) is the seventh semitone of the solfège.
It lies a diatonic semitone above F and a chromatic semitone below G, thus being enharmonic to F♯ (F-sharp) or fa dièse. However, in some temperaments, it is not the same as F♯. G♭ is a major third below B♭, whereas F♯ is a major third above D (a minor third below A).
When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of the G♭ semitone is approximately 369.994 Hz.[1] See musical pitch for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.
Designation by octave
| Scientific designation | Helmholtz designation | Octave name | Frequency (Hz) | MIDI note number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G♭−1 | G♭͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵G♭ or GGGG♭ | Octocontra | 11.562 | 6 |
| G♭0 | G♭͵͵ or ͵͵G♭ or GGG♭ | Subcontra | 23.125 | 18 |
| G♭1 | G♭͵ or ͵G♭ or GG♭ | Contra | 46.249 | 30 |
| G♭2 | G♭ | Great | 92.499 | 42 |
| G♭3 | g♭ | Small | 184.997 | 54 |
| G♭4 | g♭′ | One-lined | 369.994 | 66 |
| G♭5 | g♭′′ | Two-lined | 739.989 | 78 |
| G♭6 | g♭′′′ | Three-lined | 1479.978 | 90 |
| G♭7 | g♭′′′′ | Four-lined | 2959.955 | 102 |
| G♭8 | g♭′′′′′ | Five-lined | 5919.911 | 114 |
| G♭9 | g♭′′′′′′ | Six-lined | 11839.822 | 126 |
| G♭10 | g♭′′′′′′′ | Seven-lined | 23679.643 | 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♭
- 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♭
- 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
- ^ 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.