Explore scales · Ukulele
E♭ neapolitan minor scale on ukulele
E♭ neapolitan minor is E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D. Its low root on string 3, fret 3 suits reentrant tuning without string 4.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the E♭ neapolitan minor scale on ukulele?
E♭ neapolitan minor in box 1 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 C string at fret 3 and the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3, 4 | B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (C) | 3, 4, 6 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (A) | 5, 6 | D, E♭ |
Box 2 · frets 6–9
E♭ neapolitan minor in box 2 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 10 notes across 4 strings, from G♭ on the C string at fret 6 up to G♭ on the A string at fret 9. The root falls on the G string at fret 8 and the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7, 8, 9 | D, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (C) | 6, 8 | G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (E) | 6, 7 | B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
Box 3 · frets 8–11
E♭ neapolitan minor in box 3 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 G string at fret 8 and the E string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8, 9, 11 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (C) | 8, 10, 11 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (E) | 10, 11 | D, E♭ |
| 1 (A) | 9, 11 | G♭, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ neapolitan minor lowers the second degree of E♭ harmonic minor from F to F♭. The scale keeps 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 F♭ and B♭. Compare it with E♭ harmonic minor.
When to use it
E♭ neapolitan minor fits E♭ minor and E♭ 5th chords. Its ♭2 F♭ adds a dark colour over E♭ minor, and the major seventh D pulls to E♭. Use it in brooding jazz or neoclassical lines over E♭ 5th.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root E♭ on string 3, fret 3 and covers frets 3–6, giving a compact shape for the ♭2–1 resolution.
Common questions
What notes are in E♭ neapolitan minor?
E♭ neapolitan minor contains E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, and D. The scale has a flattened second and sixth degree. It is a minor scale with a major seventh. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit E♭ neapolitan minor?
E♭ neapolitan minor works over E♭ minor and E♭ 5th chords. The flattened second F♭ adds a Neapolitan colour. The major seventh D creates a strong pull back to E♭.
How is E♭ neapolitan minor different from E♭ harmonic minor?
E♭ neapolitan minor lowers the second degree from F to F♭. The rest of the scale matches E♭ harmonic minor. This change creates a half-step between the first two notes.