A magnetic reluctance effect magnetic head in which a forward side electrode is stacked on at least the surface of a magnetic reluctance effect element facing a magnetic recording medium, and in which an upper magnetic pole is stacked on the forward side electrode for facing the magnetic reluctance effect element. A connecting length L1 between the magnetic reluctance effect element and the forward side electrode is shorter than a facing length L2 over which the upper magnetic pole and the magnetic reluctance effect element face each other via a magnetic gap G. The upper magnetic pole and the magnetic reluctance effect element have an area in which the upper magnetic pole and the magnetic reluctance effect element face each other over a distance g2 larger than a magnetic gap length g1 of the magnetic gap G. The upper magnetic pole may be formed to be progressively spaced apart from the magnetic reluctance effect element by being angled 30.degree. relative to the magnetic reluctance effect element, and the distance g2 may be progressively increased. With the magnetic reluctance effect magnetic head, the playback output may be improved and the magnetic head may be reduced in size and in the power consumption.