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F Harmonic Minor vs F Melodic Minor

F melodic minor is F harmonic minor with a raised 6th: Db becomes D. Both drawn on one guitar neck.

F Harmonic Minor and F Melodic Minor on one guitar fretboard, the shared notes and the differences marked13578910121415eBGDAEEFGAbBbCDbDEFGCDbDEFGAbBbCDbDGAbBbCDbDEFGAbBbDEFGAbBbCDbDEFBbCDbDEFGAbBbCEFGAbBbCDbDEFG

Tap any note on the neck.

Swipe the neck sideways to see the higher frets.

F melodic minor is F harmonic minor with a raised 6th: Db becomes D.

F harmonic minor vs F melodic minor: what is different

They share six notes and differ in one:

Shared by both: F G Ab Bb C 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

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

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

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