STRINGSCALES

G neapolitan minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

A string: Bb, C, D, Eb, F#, G, Ab at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

D string: D, Eb, F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

G string: G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F#, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12

B string: C, D, Eb, F#, G, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11

High E string: F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

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G 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:

G

i

Gm
A♭

bII

A♭maj
B♭

bIII+

B♭aug
C

iv

Cm
D

V

Dmaj♭5
E♭

bVI

E♭maj
F♯

VII

A♭7no5/F#

Same notes, different mode

G 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.

Ab lydian #6Bb mixolydian augmentedC romani minorD locrian dominantEb ionian major #2F# ultralocrian

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

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

How to play G neapolitan minor on guitar

Open G is the tonic itself and open D sits a perfect fifth above it, so a two-string drone is available in any position. Roots take 3 on both E strings, 10 on the A, 8 on the B. Three flats in the key signature. Everything anchored to that open G stays under 7 before the shift, which means the first shape can be worked without leaving the lower frets.

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