Some melodic minor exercises are made available in two versions. The two versions offer different theoretical approaches to learning melodic minor, and I would like to encourage to study both versions.
The first version is written in the usual way. It is based on the natural minor key, and is derived by raising the sixth and seventh note.
The fingering patterns are modified accordingly, as in this example:
For writing the second version I used an approach that I borrowed from A Modern Method for Guitar (WG Leavitt, Berklee College of Music). It takes advantage of the fact that melodic minor is just one note different from major. To go from major to melodic minor, this approach only requires lowering the third note.
The fingering patterns are modified accordingly, as in this example:
Both versions should sound identical, although the fingering patterns may be slightly different. I think that studying both versions, to compare their melodic structure, their sound and their fingering patterns can be very useful.