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