B♭ 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 B♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where B♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G A |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7M |
| Step pattern | H W W W W W H |
| Chords in the key | B♭mC♭+D♭+E♭F(♭5)G°A–C♭–E♭ |
Chords in the B♭ Neapolitan Major scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
B♭ Neapolitan Major on the piano
Improvisation drone · B♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano B♭ Neapolitan Major uses three black keys (B♭, D♭ and E♭) and four white. C♭ is the white key you'd normally call B.
B♭ · C♭ · D♭ · E♭ · F · G · A
Play B♭ Neapolitan Major on the online piano
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B♭ Neapolitan Major on the guitar
B♭ Neapolitan Major - fr 0–12
B♭ Neapolitan Major on the staff
Notes of the B♭ Neapolitan Major scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | C♭ | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | D♭ | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | E♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | F | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | G | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | A | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes B♭ 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 B♭, B♭ Neapolitan Major has C♭ where B♭ Melodic Minor has C; every other note is shared with B♭ Melodic Minor (B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G A).
How to use the B♭ Neapolitan Major scale
The diatonic chords of B♭ Neapolitan Major are: i = B♭m, II+ = C♭+, III+ = D♭+, IV = E♭, V♭5 = F(♭5), vi° = G°, VII = A–C♭–E♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in B♭ 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 B♭ 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 B♭ Neapolitan Major
Start with the music described above: listen for B♭ 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 B♭ Neapolitan Major scale?
The B♭ Neapolitan Major scale contains B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G and A.
What is the formula for the B♭ Neapolitan Major scale?
B♭ Neapolitan Major follows melodic minor with a flat second, so a minor third under a major sixth and seventh.
Is B♭ Neapolitan Major a major or minor scale?
B♭ Neapolitan Major is a neapolitan major scale. Melodic minor with a flat second - operatic, dramatic and angular.
What chords belong to the B♭ Neapolitan Major scale?
The diatonic chords of B♭ Neapolitan Major are B♭m, C♭+, D♭+, E♭, F(♭5), G°, A–C♭–E♭.
Which genres use B♭ 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 B♭ Neapolitan Major scale on the piano?
On the piano B♭ Neapolitan Major uses three black keys (B♭, D♭ and E♭) and four white. C♭ is the white key you'd normally call B.
What is the difference between B♭ Neapolitan Major and B♭ Melodic Minor?
On B♭, B♭ Neapolitan Major has C♭ where B♭ Melodic Minor has C; every other note is shared with B♭ Melodic Minor (B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G A).
How do I practise the B♭ Neapolitan Major scale?
Lean on the flat second as a chromatic neighbour to the tonic - gives this scale its operatic gravitas.