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F neapolitan minor scale on guitar
F neapolitan minor uses F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E. Box 1 places the root on the sixth string and the ♭2 one fret higher.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the F neapolitan minor scale on guitar?
F neapolitan minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 16 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 1, the D string at fret 3 and the high e string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 2, 4 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 3, 4 | E, F, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2 | C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 2, 4 | F, G♭, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
F neapolitan minor in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 13 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 B string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 7 | D♭, E |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 6 | C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 5, 6, 7 | E, F, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
F neapolitan minor in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 16 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the A string at fret 8 and the B string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 7, 8, 9 | E, F, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 9 | D♭, E |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7, 9 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
F neapolitan minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 15 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the A string at fret 8 and the G string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 9 | C, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9, 11 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 9, 10, 11 | E, F, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9 | C, D♭ |
Why it sounds like that
F neapolitan minor is F harmonic minor with the second degree lowered a half step to G♭. The step pattern is H, W, W, W, H, 1½, H. The ♭2 sits a semitone above the tonic. Compare with F harmonic minor to hear the lowered second degree.
When to use it
Use it over F minor progressions with a ♭II chord like F♯ major. It fits neoclassical metal and dark fusion. The ♭2 adds a Phrygian-like colour.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root is on string 6, fret 1, and the ♭2 is one fret higher. It covers frets 1–4 and sets up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in F neapolitan minor?
F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E. The scale has a half step between F and G♭. The 1½ step occurs between D♭ and E.
Which chords fit F neapolitan minor?
The tonic chord is F minor. The ♭II chord is F♯ major. The v chord is C 7th flat 5. These chords highlight the scale's altered degrees.
How is F neapolitan minor different from F harmonic minor?
F harmonic minor has G natural, while neapolitan minor has G♭. This lowers the second degree by a half step. The rest of the scale is identical.