Guitar Theory Studio
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A Natural Minor vs A Melodic Minor

A melodic minor is A natural minor with a raised 6th and 7th: F and G become F# and G#. Both drawn on one guitar neck.

A Natural Minor and A Melodic Minor on one guitar fretboard, the shared notes and the differences marked13578910121415eBGDAEEFF#GG#ABCDEFF#GBCDEFF#GG#ABCDGG#ABCDEFF#GG#ADEFF#GG#ABCDEFABCDEFF#GG#ABCEFF#GG#ABCDEFF#G

Tap any note on the neck.

Swipe the neck sideways to see the higher frets.

A melodic minor is A natural minor with a raised 6th and 7th: F and G become F# and G#.

A natural minor vs A melodic minor: what is different

They share five notes and differ in two:

Shared by both: A B C D E.

When to use which

Play both over the same chord and listen to the notes that differ. Whichever sounds right for the song is the answer; the names matter less than the ear. As a rule, the scale with the raised note sounds brighter or more tense, and the one with the lowered note sounds darker or more settled.

Hear the difference

A Natural Minor
A   B   C   D   E   F   G
A Melodic Minor
A   B   C   D   E   F#   G#
Shared notes
A   B   C   D   E
Only in Natural Minor
F (b6)   G (b7)
Only in Melodic Minor
F# (6)   G# (7)
Compare these two on the interactive neck →

Free, no account needed. Change the key and both scales follow.

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