Playing D Neapolitan from the Open D String
Let the open D string ring, then add D, Eb, F, G, A, B and C#. This is the D Neapolitan scale, and the first fret of that string is the Eb that makes it sound exotic.
In the box shapes you will find the root at the 10th fret of the low E string and the 5th fret of the A string. The lower half behaves like D Phrygian, while the upper half is borrowed from D major, with C# as a leading tone. When you have tried it, another exotic scale offers a different flavour.
Play the D neapolitan scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the D neapolitan scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | Root | 0 |
| Eb | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| F | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| G | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| A | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| B | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| C# | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
D 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.
D Neapolitan Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (D)
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 D neapolitan scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as D 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 |
|---|---|---|
| A Arabic | 5 | Major Locrian |
Other scales on D
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- D Phrygian: shares 5 notes
- D Harmonic Minor: shares 5 notes
- D Melodic Minor: 2 instead of b2
- D 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
