F# Neapolitan with an E# Leading Tone
The F# Neapolitan scale runs F#, G, A, B, C#, D# and E#. The E# at the top is the leading tone, played at the same fret as F, and it resolves back to F#.
The first box begins on the 2nd fret of the low E string. If you already know the C Neapolitan fingering, slide it up six frets and the pattern fits exactly.
Play the F# neapolitan scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the F# neapolitan scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| F# | 1 | Root | 0 |
| G | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| A | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| B | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| C# | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| D# | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| E# | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
F# 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.
F# Neapolitan Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (low E)
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 F# neapolitan scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as F# 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C# Arabic | 5 | Major Locrian |
Other scales on F#
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- F# Phrygian: shares 5 notes
- F# Harmonic Minor: shares 5 notes
- F# Melodic Minor: 2 instead of b2
- F# 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
