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 | AmB♭+C+DE(♭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 (B♭, F♯ and G♯) and four white.
A · B♭ · C · D · E · F♯ · G♯
Try A Neapolitan Major on the virtual piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
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 = Am, 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 Am, 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 (B♭, F♯ and G♯) and four white.
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.