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