Explore scales · Bass
E♭ neapolitan minor scale on bass guitar
E♭ neapolitan minor uses E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D. Box 1 keeps the root on string 2, fret 1.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the E♭ neapolitan minor scale on bass?
E♭ 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 3. The root falls on the D string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2 | B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 0, 1, 2 | D, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
E♭ neapolitan minor in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 8 notes across 4 strings, from G♭ on the E string at fret 2 up to C♭ on the G string at fret 4. 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) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (A) | 2, 5 | C♭, D |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4 | F♭, G♭ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 4 | B♭, C♭ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
E♭ neapolitan minor in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 10 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the E string at fret 4 up to D on the G string at fret 7. The root falls on the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (A) | 5, 6, 7 | D, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 7 | C♭, D |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
E♭ neapolitan minor in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 11 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the E string at fret 6 up to F♭ on the G string at fret 9. The root falls on the A string at fret 6 and the G string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 7 | B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (G) | 7, 8, 9 | D, E♭, F♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
E♭ 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 A♭ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the E string at fret 11 and the D string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 12, 13, 14 | D, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13 | G♭, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ neapolitan minor lowers the second degree of E♭ harmonic minor from F to F♭. The scale contains a tritone and a leading tone. Its step pattern is H, W, W, W, H, 1½, H.
When to use it
E♭ neapolitan minor fits E♭ minor and E♭ 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 2, fret 1, covering frets 0–3 and setting up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in the E♭ neapolitan minor scale?
E♭ neapolitan minor contains E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, and D. The scale has a minor 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, augmented 5th, and major 7th. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does E♭ neapolitan minor fit?
E♭ neapolitan minor fits E♭ minor and E♭ 5th chords. The ♭2 and ♭6 add tension over these chords.
How does E♭ neapolitan minor differ from E♭ harmonic minor?
E♭ neapolitan minor lowers the second degree from F to F♭. The rest of the scale matches E♭ harmonic minor.