The C Neapolitan Scale on Guitar

Play the C neapolitan scale

Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.

Notes of the C neapolitan scale

Structure

C neapolitan scale notes:

C Db Eb F G A B

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.

C Neapolitan Scale Guitar Patterns

Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.

On one string (B)

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 C neapolitan scale

Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.

Scales with the same notes as C Neapolitan

These scales use exactly the same notes. Each one starts somewhere else, so the root and the mood change.

Other scales on C

Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.

• C Phrygian: shares 5 notes
• C Harmonic Minor: shares 5 notes
• C Melodic Minor: 2 instead of b2
• C Dorian b2: b7 instead of 7

The neapolitan scale in other keys

All about the neapolitan scale →

Keep learning

• Guitar scale song examples
• How to finger scales