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