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