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E Harmonic Minor vs E Melodic Minor

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

E Harmonic Minor and E Melodic Minor on one guitar fretboard, the shared notes and the differences marked13578910121415eBGDAEEF#GABCC#D#EF#GBCC#D#EF#GABCC#GABCC#D#EF#GAD#EF#GABCC#D#EABCC#D#EF#GABCEF#GABCC#D#EF#G

Tap any note on the neck.

Swipe the neck sideways to see the higher frets.

E melodic minor is E harmonic minor with a raised 6th: C becomes C#.

E harmonic minor vs E melodic minor: what is different

They share six notes and differ in one:

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

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

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

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

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