C♯ neapolitan minor scale on guitar

C♯ neapolitan minor uses C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯, A, B♯. Box 2 keeps the root on the sixth string for a wide stretch.

Positions on the neck1 of 4

How it is built

C♯1D♭2E♭3F♯4G♯5A♭6B♯7

Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7

How do you play the C♯ neapolitan minor scale on guitar?

C♯ neapolitan minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 13 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 2. The root falls on the B string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	0, 2	E, F♯
5 (A)	0, 3	A, B♯
4 (D)	0, 2	D, E
3 (G)	1, 2	G♯, A
2 (B)	1, 2, 3	B♯, C♯, D
1 (e)	0, 2	E, F♯

Box 2 · frets 2–5

C♯ neapolitan minor in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 16 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the B string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	2, 4, 5	F♯, G♯, A
5 (A)	3, 4, 5	B♯, C♯, D
4 (D)	2, 4	E, F♯
3 (G)	2, 5	A, B♯
2 (B)	2, 3, 5	C♯, D, E
1 (e)	2, 4, 5	F♯, G♯, A

Box 3 · frets 4–7

C♯ neapolitan minor in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 15 notes across 6 strings, from G♯ on the low E string at fret 4 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the G string at fret 6.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	4, 5	G♯, A
5 (A)	4, 5, 7	C♯, D, E
4 (D)	4, 6, 7	F♯, G♯, A
3 (G)	5, 6, 7	B♯, C♯, D
2 (B)	5, 7	E, F♯
1 (e)	4, 5	G♯, A

Box 4 · frets 9–12

C♯ neapolitan minor in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 16 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the low E string at fret 9, the D string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	9, 10, 12	C♯, D, E
5 (A)	9, 11, 12	F♯, G♯, A
4 (D)	10, 11, 12	B♯, C♯, D
3 (G)	9, 11	E, F♯
2 (B)	9, 10	G♯, A
1 (e)	9, 10, 12	C♯, D, E

Why it sounds like that

C♯ neapolitan minor is C♯ harmonic minor with the second degree lowered a half step to D. The step pattern is H, W, W, W, H, 1½, H. The ♭2 sits a semitone above the tonic. Compare with C♯ harmonic minor to hear the lowered second degree.

When to use it

Use it over C♯ minor progressions with a ♭II chord like D major. It fits neoclassical metal and dark fusion. The ♭2 adds a Phrygian-like colour.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 2 first: the root is on string 6, fret 9, and the ♭2 is one fret higher. It covers frets 2–5 and sets up Box 3.

Common questions

What notes are in C♯ neapolitan minor?

C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯, A, B♯. The scale has a half step between C♯ and D. The 1½ step occurs between A and B♯. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

Which chords fit C♯ neapolitan minor?

The tonic chord is C♯ minor. The ♭II chord is D major. The v chord is G♯ 7th flat 5. These chords highlight the scale's altered degrees.

How is C♯ neapolitan minor different from C♯ harmonic minor?

C♯ harmonic minor has D♯, while neapolitan minor has D natural. This lowers the second degree by a half step. The rest of the scale is identical.