Harmonic Minor vs Melodic Minor
The C harmonic minor and the C melodic minor share 6 notes — C, D, Eb, F, G, B. From there, the C harmonic minor adds Ab, while the C melodic minor adds A.
Piano, C3 to C5. Notes in this scale, low to high: C3 (root of C Harmonic Minor and root of C Melodic Minor), D3 (2 of C Harmonic Minor and 2 of C Melodic Minor), Eb3 (flat 3 of C Harmonic Minor and flat 3 of C Melodic Minor), F3 (4 of C Harmonic Minor and 4 of C Melodic Minor), G3 (5 of C Harmonic Minor and 5 of C Melodic Minor), Ab3 (flat 6), A3 (6), B3 (7 of C Harmonic Minor and 7 of C Melodic Minor), C4 (root of C Harmonic Minor and root of C Melodic Minor), D4 (2 of C Harmonic Minor and 2 of C Melodic Minor), Eb4 (flat 3 of C Harmonic Minor and flat 3 of C Melodic Minor), F4 (4 of C Harmonic Minor and 4 of C Melodic Minor), G4 (5 of C Harmonic Minor and 5 of C Melodic Minor), Ab4 (flat 6), A4 (6), B4 (7 of C Harmonic Minor and 7 of C Melodic Minor), C5 (root of C Harmonic Minor and root of C Melodic Minor).
Both scales above are drawn on one piano keyboard in the key of C. Notes belonging to both are drawn as a split two-color dot, so the notes they share and the notes unique to each are visible in one picture.
How the formulas differ
Scale degrees are the key-independent way to compare two scales — these stay the same in every key, and they are what actually distinguishes one scale from another.
| Scale | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Harmonic Minor | R · 2 · b3 · 4 · 5 · b6 · 7 |
| Melodic Minor | R · 2 · b3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 |
Notes in common
| Note | In Harmonic Minor | In Melodic Minor |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | R |
| D | 2 | 2 |
| Eb | b3 | b3 |
| F | 4 | 4 |
| G | 5 | 5 |
| B | 7 | 7 |
Notes that differ
- Only in the harmonic minor: Ab (b6)
- Only in the melodic minor: A (6)