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B neapolitan minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G, A#, B, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12

A string: A#, B, C, D, E, F#, G at frets 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10

D string: D, E, F#, G, A#, B, C, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12

G string: G, A#, B, C, D, E, F#, G at frets 0, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

B string: B, C, D, E, F#, G, A#, B at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12

High E string: E, F#, G, A#, B, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12

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B neapolitan minor

The neapolitan minor scale is harmonic minor with a flat 2nd: root, flat 2nd, flat 3rd, 4th, 5th, flat 6th, major 7th. It combines the phrygian half-step opening with the harmonic minor's dramatic leading tone, giving two strong pulls toward the root from both sides. Classical composers used its namesake Neapolitan chord for exactly this dark-to-resolution effect.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B

i

Bm
C

bII

Cmaj
D

bIII+

Daug
E

iv

Em
F♯

V

F#maj♭5
G

bVI

Gmaj
A♯

VII

C7no5/A♯

Same notes, different mode

B neapolitan minor uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

C lydian #6D mixolydian augmentedE romani minorF# locrian dominantG ionian major #2A# ultralocrian

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

tip
  • Two half-step magnets pull to the root: bII (C) from above... approach B from both directions in one phrase.
  • Use it over a minor chord when the bII (C) major triad (the Neapolitan chord) appears in the progression; the scale covers both.
  • Practice the augmented 2nd between b6 (G) and VII the same way you would in harmonic minor: as a deliberate expressive leap.
  • Compare against B harmonic minor in the same solo: only the 2nd changes, and that single flat is pure classical drama.

How to play B neapolitan minor on guitar

Open B is the tonic, and low E, D, G and high E all carry scale tones, so five of six strings can ring untouched. Capo fret 2 converts A fingerings into this key. Roots answer at 7 on both E strings, 2 on the A string, 4 on the G. Two sharps in the signature and a box that ends at 11, which means the whole first shape sits inside the lower half of the neck.

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