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G Harmonic Minor vs G Melodic Minor

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

G Harmonic Minor and G Melodic Minor on one guitar fretboard, the shared notes and the differences marked13578910121415eBGDAEEF#GABbCDEbEF#GCDEbEF#GABbCDGABbCDEbEF#GABbDEbEF#GABbCDEbEABbCDEbEF#GABbCEF#GABbCDEbEF#G

Tap any note on the neck.

Swipe the neck sideways to see the higher frets.

G melodic minor is G harmonic minor with a raised 6th: Eb becomes E.

G harmonic minor vs G melodic minor: what is different

They share six notes and differ in one:

Shared by both: G A Bb C D F#.

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

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

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

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