B Neapolitan Minor at a glance
Neapolitan minor got popular in 18th-century Italian opera. Works great for dark, dramatic classical and film scoring contexts. 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 H W+H H |
| Chords in the key | BmCD+EmF♯(♭5)GA♯–C–E |
Chords in the B Neapolitan Minor scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
B Neapolitan Minor on the piano
Improvisation drone · B
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano B Neapolitan Minor uses two black keys (F♯ and A♯) and five white.
B · C · D · E · F♯ · G · A♯
Play B Neapolitan Minor on the online piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
B Neapolitan Minor on the guitar
B Neapolitan Minor - fr 0–12
B Neapolitan Minor on the staff
Notes of the B Neapolitan Minor 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 | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | A♯ | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes B Neapolitan Minor different
Neapolitan minor is harmonic minor with a lowered second. That ♭2 is the only note separating it from harmonic minor, and it builds the Neapolitan ♭II chord into the scale. Its first four notes match Phrygian while its top half matches harmonic minor, leading tone included. The result is a minor scale with half steps on both sides of the tonic. On B, B Neapolitan Minor has C where B Harmonic Minor has C♯; every other note is shared with B Harmonic Minor (B C♯ D E F♯ G A♯).
How to use the B Neapolitan Minor scale
The diatonic chords of B Neapolitan Minor are: i = Bm, II = C, III+ = D+, iv = Em, 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 Minor. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Neapolitan minor got popular in 18th-century Italian opera. Works great for dark, dramatic classical and film scoring contexts.
Practice tips
Practise this alongside harmonic minor to feel the difference that flat second makes.
Formula & step pattern
The B Neapolitan Minor scale follows harmonic minor with a flat second degree, popularised by Italian opera. Step pattern: H - W - W - W - H - W+H - 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 Minor
Start with the music described above: listen for B Neapolitan Minor 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 Minor scale?
The B Neapolitan Minor scale contains B, C, D, E, F♯, G and A♯.
What is the formula for the B Neapolitan Minor scale?
B Neapolitan Minor follows harmonic minor with a flat second degree, popularised by Italian opera.
Is B Neapolitan Minor a major or minor scale?
B Neapolitan Minor is a neapolitan minor scale. Harmonic minor with a flat second - dark, classical and instantly recognisable.
What chords belong to the B Neapolitan Minor scale?
The diatonic chords of B Neapolitan Minor are Bm, C, D+, Em, F♯(♭5), G, A♯–C–E.
Which genres use B Neapolitan Minor?
Neapolitan minor got popular in 18th-century Italian opera. Works great for dark, dramatic classical and film scoring contexts.
How do you play the B Neapolitan Minor scale on the piano?
On the piano B Neapolitan Minor uses two black keys (F♯ and A♯) and five white.
What is the difference between B Neapolitan Minor and B Harmonic Minor?
On B, B Neapolitan Minor has C where B Harmonic Minor has C♯; every other note is shared with B Harmonic Minor (B C♯ D E F♯ G A♯).
How do I practise the B Neapolitan Minor scale?
Practise this alongside harmonic minor to feel the difference that flat second makes.