G Neapolitan from the Open G String
G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E and F# are the notes of the G Neapolitan scale. The open G string is the root, so you can hold the tonic and fret the Ab above it to hear the b2 tension.
On the low E string the root is on the 3rd fret. The upper half, D, E and F#, matches G major, which makes a nice link if you improvise with G major ideas and want to darken them. Follow it up with a look at exotic scales.
Play the G neapolitan scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the G neapolitan scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Root | 0 |
| Ab | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| Bb | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| C | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| D | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| E | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| F# | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
G 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.
G Neapolitan Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (G)
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 G neapolitan scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as G 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 |
|---|---|---|
| D Arabic | 5 | Major Locrian |
Other scales on G
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- G Phrygian: shares 5 notes
- G Harmonic Minor: shares 5 notes
- G Melodic Minor: 2 instead of b2
- G 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
