STRINGSCALES

E♭ neapolitan minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

A string: Bb, Cb, D, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11

D string: D, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

G string: Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb, Fb, Gb at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11

B string: Cb, D, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb at frets 0, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

High E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

Pick a root note

Pick a scale

Eb 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:

E♭

i

E♭m
F♭

bII

F♭maj
G♭

bIII+

G♭aug
A♭

iv

A♭m
B♭

V

B♭majb5
C♭

bVI

C♭maj
D

VII

F♭7no5/D

Same notes, different mode

Eb 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.

Fb lydian #6Gb mixolydian augmentedAb romani minorBb locrian dominantCb ionian major #2D ultralocrian

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

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

How to play E♭ neapolitan minor on guitar

Capo fret 1 rewrites this as a D fingering, so the whole shape drops into a friendlier hand position. Open low E reads as Fb, the open D as a major seventh, and the open B as Cb. Six flats sit in the signature. Roots climb from 1 on the D string to 11 on both E strings, so the first box closes at 15 and low work needs the capo.

homeall scalesaboutfaqpricingmicrotonalterms & conditionsprivacy policycookie policy© 2026 StringScales. All rights reserved.