Bb Neapolitan, Shape by Shape
Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, G and A are the notes of the Bb Neapolitan scale. Cb is the flat second and plays at the same fret as B.
You can start on the 6th fret of the low E string or the 1st fret of the A string. The result is the same shape you would use in C, A or any other key, only shifted along the neck.
Play the Bb neapolitan scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the Bb neapolitan scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bb | 1 | Root | 0 |
| Cb | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| Db | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| Eb | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| F | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| G | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| A | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
Bb neapolitan scale notes:
How the neapolitan scale is built:
The neapolitan scale is built from the degrees 1 b2 b3 4 5 6 7, which gives the step pattern H-W-W-W-W-W-H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is also known as Neapolitan Major.
Bb Neapolitan Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (A)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the Bb neapolitan scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as Bb Neapolitan
These scales use exactly the same notes. Each one starts somewhere else, so the root and the mood change.
| Scale | Starts on degree | Learn the scale |
|---|---|---|
| F Arabic | 5 | Major Locrian |
Other scales on Bb
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- Bb Phrygian: shares 5 notes
- Bb Harmonic Minor: shares 5 notes
- Bb Melodic Minor: 2 instead of b2
- Bb Dorian b2: b7 instead of 7
The neapolitan scale in other keys
Keep learning
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
