Explore scales · Guitar
A♭ neapolitan major scale on guitar
A♭ neapolitan major uses A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G. Box 1 places roots on string 6 fret 4, string 3 fret 1, and string 1 fret 4.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, 7
How do you play the A♭ neapolitan major scale on guitar?
A♭ neapolitan major in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 15 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the low E string at fret 4, the G string at fret 1 and the high e string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4 | C♭, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 2, 4 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
A♭ neapolitan major in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 15 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to C♭ on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the low E string at fret 4, the D string at fret 6 and the high e string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5, 7 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 5, 6, 7 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6 | C♭, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 7 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
Box 3 · frets 7–10
A♭ neapolitan major in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 13 notes across 6 strings, from C♭ on the low E string at fret 7 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the B string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9 | C♭, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 10 | F, G |
| 4 (D) | 7, 9 | B♭♭, C♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 10 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9 | C♭, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
A♭ neapolitan major in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 14 notes across 6 strings, from D♭ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the A string at fret 11 and the B string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11, 12 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 12 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
A♭ neapolitan major in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 14 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12, 14 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12, 13, 14 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 2 (B) | 12, 14 | C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
Lower the second degree of A♭ melodic minor by a semitone to get A♭ neapolitan major. The scale spells 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, 7 with intervals 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. Its step pattern is H, W, W, W, W, W, H. Compare with A♭ melodic minor to hear the ♭2.
When to use it
Use A♭ neapolitan major over A♭ minor or A♭ 5th chords. The ♭2 and ♭3 create tension in jazz and neoclassical lines. Try it over A♭ minor or A♭ 5th.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 6 fret 4 and covers frets 1–4, making the half-step ♭2 easy to reach.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ neapolitan major?
The notes are A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G. The scale has a lowered second and third degree compared to major. It is also called Kokilpriya in Carnatic music. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit A♭ neapolitan major?
The tonic chord is A♭ minor or A♭ 5th. The scale also works over altered dominant chords like A 7♭5 and B 7♯5. Use it for a dark, exotic sound.
How is A♭ neapolitan major different from A♭ melodic minor?
A♭ neapolitan major has a B♭♭ instead of B♭. This lowers the second degree by a semitone. The rest of the notes are identical.