G# Messiaen's Mode #3 Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in 8-string tuning — fretboard diagram
G# Messiaen's Mode #3 in 8-string — Notes and Intervals
The G# Messiaen's Mode #3 scale is a complex nine-note symmetrical scale used by Olivier Messiaen. On Guitar, its notes are G#, A#, B, C, D, D#, E, F#, G. It creates a cosmic, suspended tonality that feels both religious and scientific, evoking a sense of divine awe. Commonly used in Contemporary Classical, Film Scores, Ambient, Experimental. Notable players include Olivier Messiaen, Gyorgy Ligeti, Thomas Ades. Use for creating atmospheres of 'cosmic awe'. Not bound to traditional chord progressions — works best over sustained harmonies or ostinato patterns.
Notes: G#, A#, B, C, D, D#, E, F#, G
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 3M, 4A, 5P, 6m, 7m, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 #5 6 b7 b8 9
Formula: W-H-H-W-H-H-W-H-H
Number of notes: 9
Tuning: 8-string (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E)
About 8-string Tuning
The 8-string guitar adds both a low B and a low F# string (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E), pushing the instrument's range almost into bass guitar territory. This massive tonal range has become the weapon of choice for djent, progressive metal, and experimental composers who need bone-crushing low-end and soaring highs in a single instrument.
With artists like Tosin Abasi, Meshuggah, and After the Burial leading the charge, the 8-string guitar has redefined what's possible in modern heavy music. The low F# string delivers subsonic heaviness that you can feel in your chest, while the upper strings maintain standard guitar voicings for leads and clean passages. Extended-range compositions often exploit the full span of the instrument, creating a wall of sound that covers bass, rhythm, and lead guitar roles simultaneously.
Notable artists: Meshuggah, Animals as Leaders, After the Burial, Intervals, Monuments
Best for: Djent polyrhythms, extended-range metal riffs, experimental compositions, and one-instrument arrangements spanning bass to lead
Musical Character
A 9-note scale with limited transposition — only 4 unique transpositions exist before repeating. Creates a cosmic, suspended tonality that is neither major nor minor but something transcendent.
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- G# Messiaen's Mode #3 in Standard Tuning
- G# Messiaen's Mode #3 in Drop D
- G# Messiaen's Mode #3 in DADGAD
- G# Messiaen's Mode #3 in Open G
- G# Messiaen's Mode #3 in Baritone (B Standard)
- G# Messiaen's Mode #3 in 7-string
- G# Messiaen's Mode #3 in Drop C
- G# Messiaen's Mode #3 in Drop B
- G# Messiaen's Mode #3 in Open D