Explore scales · Ukulele
A♭ neapolitan minor scale on ukulele
A♭ neapolitan minor is A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G. Its root on string 4, fret 1 works with reentrant G for a low, dark start.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the A♭ neapolitan minor scale on ukulele?
A♭ neapolitan minor 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, 4 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (E) | 3, 4 | G, A♭ |
| 1 (A) | 2, 4 | C♭, D♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
A♭ neapolitan minor 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, 4 | E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (E) | 3, 4, 5 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 1 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 8–11
A♭ neapolitan minor in box 3 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 9 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, 9 | E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (C) | 8, 9, 11 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 2 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (A) | 10, 11 | G, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ neapolitan minor lowers the second degree of A♭ harmonic minor from B♭ to B♭♭. The scale retains the minor third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, augmented fifth, and major seventh, but the flattened second creates a half-step into the tonic. A tritone sits between B♭♭ and E♭. Compare it with A♭ harmonic minor.
When to use it
A♭ neapolitan minor fits A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords. Its ♭2 B♭♭ adds a dark colour over A♭ minor, and the major seventh G pulls to A♭. Use it in brooding jazz or neoclassical lines over A♭ 5th.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root A♭ on string 4, fret 1 and covers frets 1–4, giving a compact shape for the ♭2–1 resolution.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ neapolitan minor?
A♭ neapolitan minor contains A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, and G. The scale has a flattened second and sixth degree. It is a minor scale with a major seventh. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit A♭ neapolitan minor?
A♭ neapolitan minor works over A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords. The flattened second B♭♭ adds a Neapolitan colour. The major seventh G creates a strong pull back to A♭.
How is A♭ neapolitan minor different from A♭ harmonic minor?
A♭ neapolitan minor lowers the second degree from B♭ to B♭♭. The rest of the scale matches A♭ harmonic minor. This change creates a half-step between the first two notes.