A♭ Neapolitan Major at a glance
Neapolitan major is rare but striking. It pairs a flat second and a minor third with a bright major sixth and seventh, which gives it that operatic flair. Built on the root A♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where A♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D♭ E♭ F G |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7M |
| Step pattern | H W W W W W H |
| Chords in the key | A♭mB𝄫+C♭+D♭E♭(♭5)F°G–B𝄫–D♭ |
Chords in the A♭ Neapolitan Major scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
A♭ Neapolitan Major on the piano
Improvisation drone · A♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano A♭ Neapolitan Major uses three black keys (A♭, D♭ and E♭) and four white. B𝄫 and C♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A and B.
A♭ · B𝄫 · C♭ · D♭ · E♭ · F · G
Try A♭ Neapolitan Major on the virtual piano
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A♭ Neapolitan Major on the guitar
A♭ Neapolitan Major - fr 0–12
A♭ Neapolitan Major on the staff
Notes of the A♭ Neapolitan Major scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | B𝄫 | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | C♭ | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | D♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | E♭ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | F | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | G | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes A♭ Neapolitan Major different
Neapolitan major, despite the name, has a minor third: it's melodic minor with a lowered second. That ♭2 is the only note separating it from melodic minor, and it sits a half step above the tonic like the Neapolitan chord of classical harmony. The upper half (5, 6, 7 and the octave) is the same as in the major scale, which is where the “major” in the name comes from. Its tonic chord is minor, while its IV and V chords are major. On A♭, A♭ Neapolitan Major has B𝄫 where A♭ Melodic Minor has B♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Melodic Minor (A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G).
How to use the A♭ Neapolitan Major scale
The diatonic chords of A♭ Neapolitan Major are: i = A♭m, II+ = B𝄫+, III+ = C♭+, IV = D♭, V♭5 = E♭(♭5), vi° = F°, VII = G–B𝄫–D♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in A♭ Neapolitan Major. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Neapolitan major is rare but striking. It pairs a flat second and a minor third with a bright major sixth and seventh, which gives it that operatic flair.
Practice tips
Lean on the flat second as a chromatic neighbour to the tonic - gives this scale its operatic gravitas.
Formula & step pattern
The A♭ Neapolitan Major scale follows melodic minor with a flat second, so a minor third under a major sixth and seventh. Step pattern: H - W - W - W - W - W - H. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7M. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear A♭ Neapolitan Major
Start with the music described above: listen for A♭ Neapolitan Major in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the A♭ Neapolitan Major scale?
The A♭ Neapolitan Major scale contains A♭, B𝄫, C♭, D♭, E♭, F and G.
What is the formula for the A♭ Neapolitan Major scale?
A♭ Neapolitan Major follows melodic minor with a flat second, so a minor third under a major sixth and seventh.
Is A♭ Neapolitan Major a major or minor scale?
A♭ Neapolitan Major is a neapolitan major scale. Melodic minor with a flat second - operatic, dramatic and angular.
What chords belong to the A♭ Neapolitan Major scale?
The diatonic chords of A♭ Neapolitan Major are A♭m, B𝄫+, C♭+, D♭, E♭(♭5), F°, G–B𝄫–D♭.
Which genres use A♭ Neapolitan Major?
Neapolitan major is rare but striking. It pairs a flat second and a minor third with a bright major sixth and seventh, which gives it that operatic flair.
How do you play the A♭ Neapolitan Major scale on the piano?
On the piano A♭ Neapolitan Major uses three black keys (A♭, D♭ and E♭) and four white. B𝄫 and C♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A and B.
What is the difference between A♭ Neapolitan Major and A♭ Melodic Minor?
On A♭, A♭ Neapolitan Major has B𝄫 where A♭ Melodic Minor has B♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Melodic Minor (A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G).
How do I practise the A♭ Neapolitan Major scale?
Lean on the flat second as a chromatic neighbour to the tonic - gives this scale its operatic gravitas.