C Neapolitan Major Scale: Notes, Chords, Piano & Guitar

C 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 C, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where C is a comfortable tonal centre.

C Neapolitan Major at a glance
Notes	C D♭ E♭ F G A B
Formula	1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7M
Step pattern	H W W W W W H
Chords in the key	Cm D♭+E♭+FG(♭5)A°B–D♭–F

Chords in the C Neapolitan Major scale

These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.

iCm
II+D♭+
III+E♭+
IVF
V♭5G(♭5)
vi°A°
VIIB–D♭–F

C Neapolitan Major on the piano

Tempo96 BPM

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Improvisation drone · C

Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.

On the piano C Neapolitan Major uses two black keys (D♭ and E♭) and five white.

C · D♭ · E♭ · F · G · A · B

Try C Neapolitan Major on the virtual piano

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C Neapolitan Major on the guitar

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C Neapolitan Major - fr 0–12

C Neapolitan Major on the staff

Notes of the C Neapolitan Major scale

Degree	Note	Interval	Semitones
1	C	unison1P	0
2	D♭	minor 2nd2m	1
3	E♭	minor 3rd3m	3
4	F	perfect 4th4P	5
5	G	perfect 5th5P	7
6	A	major 6th6M	9
7	B	major 7th7M	11

What makes C 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 C, C Neapolitan Major has D♭ where C Melodic Minor has D; every other note is shared with C Melodic Minor (C D E♭ F G A B).

How to use the C Neapolitan Major scale

The diatonic chords of C Neapolitan Major are: i = Cm, II+ = D♭+, III+ = E♭+, IV = F, V♭5 = G(♭5), vi° = A°, VII = B–D♭–F. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in C 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 C 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 C Neapolitan Major

Start with the music described above: listen for C 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 C Neapolitan Major scale?

The C Neapolitan Major scale contains C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A and B.

What is the formula for the C Neapolitan Major scale?

C Neapolitan Major follows melodic minor with a flat second, so a minor third under a major sixth and seventh.

Is C Neapolitan Major a major or minor scale?

C Neapolitan Major is a neapolitan major scale. Melodic minor with a flat second - operatic, dramatic and angular.

What chords belong to the C Neapolitan Major scale?

The diatonic chords of C Neapolitan Major are Cm, D♭+, E♭+, F, G(♭5), A°, B–D♭–F.

Which genres use C Neapolitan Major?