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G neapolitan major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

A string: Bb, C, D, E, F#, G, Ab at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

D string: D, E, F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

G string: G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E, F#, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

B string: C, D, E, F#, G, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11

High E string: E, F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

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G neapolitan major

The neapolitan major scale is a melodic minor scale with a flat 2nd: only the opening half step is dark, and everything from the 4th up is pure major brightness. That lopsided design gives melodies a shadowed start and a radiant finish. It generates its own mode family, including the leading whole tone and major locrian scales.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

G

i

Gm
A♭

bII+

A♭aug
B♭

bIII+

B♭aug
C

IV

Cmaj
D

V

Dmaj♭5
E

vi°

Edim
F♯

VII

A♭7no5/F#

Same notes, different mode

G neapolitan major 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.

Ab leading whole toneBb lydian augmented dominantC lydian dominant b6D major locrianE half-diminished b4F# altered dominant double b3

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

tip
  • Dark start, bright finish: open phrases with the b2 (Ab) against the root, then climb into the pure-major top half (VI and VII).
  • Use it over a major chord approached from its Neapolitan (the bII (Ab) major triad); the scale bridges both harmonies.
  • Think melodic minor with a flat 2nd: your G melodic minor fingering needs only one altered note.
  • Write a two-bar phrase where bar one uses only root, b2 (Ab), b3 (Bb) and bar two only IV, V, VI, VII; the scale's split personality becomes the hook.

How to play G neapolitan major on guitar

Root and fifth are available open, on the G and D strings, so a drone underpins anything played above. Major sixth turns up on both E strings, so four strings sound in key while the hand sits higher up. Outer pair takes roots at fret 3. First shape gives way at fret 7, so the next box picks up at fret 10, A string.

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