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G# Natural Minor vs Ab Melodic Minor

Ab melodic minor is G# natural minor with a raised 6th and 7th (Ab and G# are the same pitch): E and F# become F and G. Both drawn on one guitar neck.

G# Natural Minor and Ab Melodic Minor on one guitar fretboard, the shared notes and the differences marked13578910121415eBGDAEEFF#GG#A#BC#D#EFF#GBC#D#EFF#GG#A#BC#GG#A#BC#D#EFF#GG#A#D#EFF#GG#A#BC#D#EFA#BC#D#EFF#GG#A#BEFF#GG#A#BC#D#EFF#G

Tap any note on the neck.

Swipe the neck sideways to see the higher frets.

Ab melodic minor is G# natural minor with a raised 6th and 7th (Ab and G# are the same pitch): E and F# become F and G.

G# natural minor vs Ab melodic minor: what is different

They share five notes and differ in two:

Shared by both: 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

G# Natural Minor
G#   A#   B   C#   D#   E   F#
Ab Melodic Minor
Ab   Bb   Cb   Db   Eb   F   G
Shared notes
G#   A#   B   C#   D#
Only in Natural Minor
E (b6)   F# (b7)
Only in Melodic Minor
F (6)   G (7)
Compare these two on the interactive neck →

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

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