Guitar Theory Studio
Compare

F# Natural Minor vs F# Harmonic Minor

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

F# Natural Minor and F# Harmonic Minor on one guitar fretboard, the shared notes and the differences marked13578910121415eBGDAEEE#F#G#ABC#DEE#F#BC#DEE#F#G#ABC#DG#ABC#DEE#F#G#ADEE#F#G#ABC#DEE#ABC#DEE#F#G#ABEE#F#G#ABC#DEE#F#

Tap any note on the neck.

Swipe the neck sideways to see the higher frets.

F# harmonic minor is F# natural minor with a raised 7th: E becomes E#.

F# natural minor vs F# harmonic minor: what is different

They share six notes and differ in one:

Shared by both: F# G# A B C# 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

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

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

Put this fretboard on your own page

Teachers and bloggers: paste this and your readers get the diagram above, playable, on your page. Free to use, and the credit line links back here.