Explore scales · Guitar
D neapolitan minor scale on guitar
D neapolitan minor contains D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭, C♯. Box 1 places the root on the fifth string and the ♭2 one fret higher.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the D neapolitan minor scale on guitar?
D neapolitan minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 13 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the B string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 3 | F, G |
| 5 (A) | 1, 4 | B♭, C♯ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3 | A, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3, 4 | C♯, D, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3 | F, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
D neapolitan minor in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 16 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the A string at fret 5 and the B string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 5, 6 | C♯, D, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 3 (G) | 3, 6 | B♭, C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 3, 4, 6 | D, E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
D neapolitan minor in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 15 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the A string at fret 5 and the G string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 6 | A, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 5, 6, 8 | D, E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 5, 7, 8 | G, A, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7, 8 | C♯, D, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8 | F, G |
| 1 (e) | 5, 6 | A, B♭ |
Box 4 · frets 10–13
D neapolitan minor in box 4 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 16 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the low E string at fret 10, the D string at fret 12 and the high e string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 10, 12, 13 | G, A, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 12, 13 | C♯, D, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
| 2 (B) | 10, 11 | A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
D neapolitan minor is D harmonic minor with the second degree lowered a half step to E♭. The interval sequence is H, W, W, W, H, 1½, H. The ♭2 creates a semitone above the tonic. See D harmonic minor for the unaltered form.
When to use it
Use it over D minor riffs that include a ♭II chord like E♭ major. It suits progressive metal and dark ambient. The ♭2 adds a Middle Eastern flavour.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root is on string 5, fret 5, and the ♭2 is one fret higher. It covers frets 1–4 and leads naturally to Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in D neapolitan minor?
D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭, C♯. The scale has a half step between D and E♭. The 1½ step occurs between B♭ and C♯.
Which chords fit D neapolitan minor?
The tonic chord is D minor. The ♭II chord is E♭ major. The v chord is A 7th flat 5. These chords outline the scale's unique intervals.
How is D neapolitan minor different from D harmonic minor?
D harmonic minor has E natural, while neapolitan minor has E♭. This lowers the second degree by a half step. The rest of the scale is unchanged.