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 two black keys (C♯ and D♯) and five white. B♯, E♯, F𝄪, G𝄪 and A𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call C, F, G, A and B.
B♯ · C♯ · D♯ · E♯ · F𝄪 · G𝄪 · A𝄪
Try B♯ Neapolitan Major on the virtual 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 two black keys (C♯ and D♯) and five white. B♯, E♯, F𝄪, G𝄪 and A𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call C, F, G, A and 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.