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G neapolitan minor scale on guitar
G neapolitan minor uses G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭, F♯. 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 G neapolitan minor scale on guitar?
G neapolitan minor in box 1 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 low E string at fret 3, the D string at fret 5 and the high e string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 5, 6 | F♯, G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 3, 4 | D, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 6–9
G neapolitan minor in box 2 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 13 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 B string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
| 5 (A) | 6, 9 | E♭, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8 | D, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 8, 9 | F♯, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
Box 3 · frets 8–11
G neapolitan minor in box 3 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 16 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 A string at fret 10 and the B string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 10, 11 | F♯, G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 11 | E♭, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 11 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 10–13
G neapolitan minor in box 4 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 15 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the A string at fret 10 and the G string at fret 12.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 11 | D, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11, 13 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 12, 13 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 12, 13 | F♯, G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13 | B♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11 | D, E♭ |
Why it sounds like that
G neapolitan minor is G harmonic minor with the second degree lowered a half step to A♭. The step pattern is H, W, W, W, H, 1½, H. The ♭2 sits a semitone above the tonic. Compare with G harmonic minor to hear the lowered second degree.
When to use it
Use it over G minor progressions with a ♭II chord like A♭ major. It fits neoclassical metal and dark jazz fusion. The ♭2 adds a Phrygian-like colour.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root is on string 6, fret 3, and the ♭2 is one fret higher. It covers frets 3–6 and sets up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in G neapolitan minor?
G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭, F♯. The scale has a half step between G and A♭. The 1½ step occurs between E♭ and F♯.
Which chords fit G neapolitan minor?
The tonic chord is G minor. The ♭II chord is A♭ major. The v chord is D 7th flat 5. These chords highlight the scale's altered degrees.
How is G neapolitan minor different from G harmonic minor?
G harmonic minor has A natural, while neapolitan minor has A♭. This lowers the second degree by a half step. The rest of the scale is identical.