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.
| 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 | E♯mF♯+G♯+A♯B♯(♭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.
E♯ Neapolitan Major on the piano
Improvisation drone · E♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano E♯ Neapolitan Major uses three black keys (F♯, G♯ and A♯) and four white. E♯, B♯, C𝄪 and D𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call F, C, D and E.
E♯ · F♯ · G♯ · A♯ · B♯ · C𝄪 · D𝄪
Play E♯ Neapolitan Major on the online piano
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E♯ Neapolitan Major on the guitar
E♯ Neapolitan Major - fr 0–12
E♯ Neapolitan Major on the staff
Notes of the E♯ Neapolitan Major scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 = E♯m, 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 E♯m, F♯+, G♯+, A♯, B♯(♭5), C𝄪°, D𝄪–F♯–A♯.
Which genres use E♯ 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 E♯ Neapolitan Major scale on the piano?
On the piano E♯ Neapolitan Major uses three black keys (F♯, G♯ and A♯) and four white. E♯, B♯, C𝄪 and D𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call F, C, D and E.
What is the difference between E♯ Neapolitan Major and E♯ Melodic Minor?
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 do I practise the E♯ Neapolitan Major scale?
Lean on the flat second as a chromatic neighbour to the tonic - gives this scale its operatic gravitas.