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A♭ neapolitan minor scale on bass guitar
A♭ neapolitan minor uses A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G. Box 1 keeps the root on string 4, fret 4 and string 2, fret 6.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the A♭ neapolitan minor scale on bass?
A♭ neapolitan minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 9 notes across 4 strings, from F♭ on the E string at fret 0 up to B♭♭ on the G string at fret 2. The root falls on the G string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 3 | F♭, G |
| 3 (A) | 0, 2 | B♭♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 2 | E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 0, 1, 2 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
A♭ neapolitan minor in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 11 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the E string at fret 4 up to D♭ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the E string at fret 4 and the D string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 5, 7 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (D) | 5, 6, 7 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 6 | C♭, D♭ |
Box 3 · frets 7–10
A♭ neapolitan minor in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 8 notes across 4 strings, from C♭ on the E string at fret 7 up to F♭ on the G string at fret 9. No root falls inside this box; it sits between two of them.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 9 | C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (A) | 7, 10 | F♭, G |
| 2 (D) | 7, 9 | B♭♭, C♭ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 9 | E♭, F♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
A♭ neapolitan minor in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 10 notes across 4 strings, from D♭ on the E string at fret 9 up to G on the G string at fret 12. The root falls on the A string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 11, 12 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (A) | 10, 11, 12 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11 | C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 9, 12 | F♭, G |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
A♭ neapolitan minor in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 11 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the E string at fret 11 up to B♭♭ on the G string at fret 14. The root falls on the A string at fret 11 and the G string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12 | E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 12, 14 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 12, 13, 14 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ neapolitan minor lowers the second degree of A♭ harmonic minor from B♭ to B♭♭. The scale contains a tritone and a leading tone. Its step pattern is H, W, W, W, H, 1½, H.
When to use it
A♭ neapolitan minor fits A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords. Its ♭2 and ♭6 create a dark, tense colour for metal and neoclassical lines.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 4, fret 4, covering frets 0–3 and setting up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in the A♭ neapolitan minor scale?
A♭ neapolitan minor contains A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, and G. The scale has a minor 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, augmented 5th, and major 7th. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does A♭ neapolitan minor fit?
A♭ neapolitan minor fits A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords. The ♭2 and ♭6 add tension over these chords.
How does A♭ neapolitan minor differ from A♭ harmonic minor?
A♭ neapolitan minor lowers the second degree from B♭ to B♭♭. The rest of the scale matches A♭ harmonic minor.