C Natural Minor vs C Melodic Minor
C melodic minor is C natural minor with a raised 6th and 7th: Ab and Bb become A and B. Both drawn on one guitar neck.
Tap any note on the neck.
Swipe the neck sideways to see the higher frets.
C melodic minor is C natural minor with a raised 6th and 7th: Ab and Bb become A and B.
C natural minor vs C melodic minor: what is different
They share five notes and differ in two:
- The 6th: Ab in natural minor, A in melodic minor (b6 → 6).
- The 7th: Bb in natural minor, B in melodic minor (b7 → 7).
Shared by both: C D Eb 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
Free, no account needed. Change the key and both scales follow.
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