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B♭ prometheus neapolitan Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, G, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, E at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12

A string: Bb, Cb, D, E, G, Ab at frets 1, 2, 5, 7, 10, 11

D string: D, E, G, Ab, Bb, Cb, D at frets 0, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12

G string: G, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, E, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 12

B string: Cb, D, E, G, Ab, Bb, Cb at frets 0, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12

High E string: E, G, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, E at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12

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Bb prometheus neapolitan

The prometheus neapolitan scale darkens the prometheus scale by lowering its 2nd: root, flat 2nd, major 3rd, raised 4th, 6th, flat 7th. The Neapolitan flat 2nd adds a Phrygian shadow to an already floating whole-tone-ish set, giving lines an exotic snap right at the start of the scale. A niche but memorable color over altered dominants.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B♭

I

C♭

bII

D

III

E

#IV

G

VI

A♭

bVII

prometheus neapolitan in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Prometheus with a phrygian doorstep: open with b2 (B) against the root, then float through III, #IV (E), VI, bVII (Ab).
  • Over an altered dominant vamp on Bb, the b2 (B) reads as a b9; the rest of the scale keeps the 13#11 shimmer.
  • Contrast the two 2nds across phrases: a prometheus line (natural II) answered by this scale's b2 (B) makes a two-scale hook.
  • With no 5th, keep the root sounding low; a bass pedal on Bb is what keeps this scale legible.

How to play B♭ prometheus neapolitan on guitar

Open strings pay off here: the E pair at the augmented fourth, open D at the major third, open G at the major sixth, plus open B spelled Cb, so pedal tones cost nothing. Closest root to the nut is the A string, 1st fret, so the A-shape grip is the first thing under the hand. G string offers one at the 3rd. Both E strings reach roots at the 6th, and the opening shape expires at the 10th fret.

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