Explore scales · Ukulele
A♭ neapolitan major scale on ukulele
A♭ neapolitan major contains A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, and G. On ukulele, Box 1 places the root 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 A♭ neapolitan major scale on ukulele?
A♭ neapolitan major in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 10 notes across 4 strings, from D♭ on the C string at fret 1 up to D♭ on the A string at fret 4. The root falls on the G string at fret 1 and the E string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1, 2, 4 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 3 (C) | 1, 3 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (E) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (A) | 2, 4 | C♭, D♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
A♭ neapolitan major in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 9 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the C string at fret 3 up to E♭ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the E string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4, 6 | C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (C) | 3, 5 | E♭, F |
| 2 (E) | 3, 4, 5 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 1 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
A♭ neapolitan major in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 9 notes across 4 strings, from F on the C string at fret 5 up to F on the A string at fret 8. The root falls on the C string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (C) | 5, 7, 8 | F, G, A♭ |
| 2 (E) | 5, 7 | B♭♭, C♭ |
| 1 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
A♭ neapolitan major in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 10 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the C string at fret 8 up to A♭ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the C string at fret 8 and the A string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 3 (C) | 8, 9, 11 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 2 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (A) | 8, 10, 11 | F, G, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ neapolitan major is A♭ melodic minor with a flattened second degree, so B♭♭ replaces B♭. The scale keeps the minor third C♭, the major sixth F, and the leading tone G. That ♭2–♭3 pair creates the characteristic Neapolitan step at the bottom. Compare it with A♭ melodic minor.
When to use it
A♭ neapolitan major fits A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords, where the ♭2 adds a dark upper-neighbour colour. Use it over A♭ minor or A♭ 5th vamps. The leading tone G also lets it resolve to A♭ major in a Picardy third.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root A♭ on string 4, fret 1 and covers frets 1–4 for the full lower octave.
Common questions
Which notes are in A♭ neapolitan major?
A♭ neapolitan major contains A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, and G. The scale is spelled 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Its step pattern is H, W, W, W, W, W, H. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What chords does A♭ neapolitan major fit?
A♭ neapolitan major fits A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords. The ♭2 B♭♭ sits a semitone above the root, so it works over sustained minor vamps. The major seventh G also suits A♭ minor-major sounds.
Is A♭ neapolitan major the same as A♭ melodic minor?
A♭ neapolitan major differs from A♭ melodic minor only in the second degree. A♭ melodic minor uses B♭, while neapolitan major uses B♭♭. The other six notes are identical.