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

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

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

Chords in the E Neapolitan Major scale

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

iEm
II+F+
III+G+
IVA
V♭5B(♭5)
vi°C♯°
VIID♯–F–A

E Neapolitan Major on the piano

Tempo96 BPM

Show

Improvisation drone · E

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

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

E · F · G · A · B · C♯ · D♯

Try E 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.

Open the piano

E Neapolitan Major on the guitar

Show:

Position:

123456789101112

E Neapolitan Major - fr 0–12

E Neapolitan Major on the staff

Notes of the E Neapolitan Major scale

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

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

How to use the E Neapolitan Major scale

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

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

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

What is the formula for the E Neapolitan Major scale?

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

Is E Neapolitan Major a major or minor scale?

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

What chords belong to the E Neapolitan Major scale?

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

Which genres use E Neapolitan Major?