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B Natural Minor vs B Harmonic Minor

B harmonic minor is B natural minor with a raised 7th: A becomes A#. Both drawn on one guitar neck.

B Natural Minor and B Harmonic Minor on one guitar fretboard, the shared notes and the differences marked13578910121415eBGDAEEF#GAA#BC#DEF#GBC#DEF#GAA#BC#DGAA#BC#DEF#GAA#DEF#GAA#BC#DEAA#BC#DEF#GAA#BEF#GAA#BC#DEF#G

Tap any note on the neck.

Swipe the neck sideways to see the higher frets.

B harmonic minor is B natural minor with a raised 7th: A becomes A#.

B natural minor vs B harmonic minor: what is different

They share six notes and differ in one:

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

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

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

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