STRINGSCALES

C neapolitan minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, Ab, B, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11

A string: B, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab at frets 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

D string: Eb, F, G, Ab, B, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

G string: G, Ab, B, C, Db, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

B string: B, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, B at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

High E string: F, G, Ab, B, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11

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C 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:

C

i

Cm
D♭

bII

D♭maj
E♭

bIII+

E♭aug
F

iv

Fm
G

V

Gmaj♭5
A♭

bVI

A♭maj
B

VII

D♭7no5/B

Same notes, different mode

C 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.

Db lydian #6Eb mixolydian augmentedF romani minorG locrian dominantAb ionian major #2B ultralocrian

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

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

How to play C neapolitan minor on guitar

Open G and open B both land in this key, a perfect fifth and a major seventh over C, so a fretted line can float above two ringing strings. Low E holds a root at 8, the A string at 3, the G string at 5. Position work stays put below 12. An augmented second lives inside the fingering, which means the Ab to B move wants a planned finger rather than a straight four-fret reach.

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