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B Harmonic Minor vs B Melodic Minor

B melodic minor is B harmonic minor with a raised 6th: G becomes G#. Both drawn on one guitar neck.

B Harmonic Minor and B Melodic Minor on one guitar fretboard, the shared notes and the differences marked13578910121415eBGDAEEF#GG#A#BC#DEF#GBC#DEF#GG#A#BC#DGG#A#BC#DEF#GG#A#DEF#GG#A#BC#DEA#BC#DEF#GG#A#BEF#GG#A#BC#DEF#G

Tap any note on the neck.

Swipe the neck sideways to see the higher frets.

B melodic minor is B harmonic minor with a raised 6th: G becomes G#.

B harmonic minor vs B melodic minor: what is different

They share six notes and differ in one:

Shared by both: B C# D E F# A#.

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

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

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

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