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G Natural Minor vs G Harmonic Minor

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

G Natural Minor and G Harmonic Minor on one guitar fretboard, the shared notes and the differences marked13578910121415eBGDAEFF#GABbCDEbFF#GCDEbFF#GABbCDGABbCDEbFF#GABbDEbFF#GABbCDEbFABbCDEbFF#GABbCFF#GABbCDEbFF#G

Tap any note on the neck.

Swipe the neck sideways to see the higher frets.

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

G natural minor vs G harmonic minor: what is different

They share six notes and differ in one:

Shared by both: G A Bb C D Eb.

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

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

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