F 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 F, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where F is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | F G♭ A♭ B♭ C D E |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7M |
| Step pattern | H W W W W W H |
| Chords in the key | FmG♭+A♭+B♭C(♭5)D°E–G♭–B♭ |
Chords in the F Neapolitan Major scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
F Neapolitan Major on the piano
Improvisation drone · F
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano F Neapolitan Major uses three black keys (G♭, A♭ and B♭) and four white.
F · G♭ · A♭ · B♭ · C · D · E
Play F Neapolitan Major on the online piano
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F Neapolitan Major on the guitar
F Neapolitan Major - fr 0–12
F Neapolitan Major on the staff
Notes of the F Neapolitan Major scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | G♭ | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | A♭ | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | B♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | C | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | D | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | E | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes F 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 F, F Neapolitan Major has G♭ where F Melodic Minor has G; every other note is shared with F Melodic Minor (F G A♭ B♭ C D E).
How to use the F Neapolitan Major scale
The diatonic chords of F Neapolitan Major are: i = Fm, II+ = G♭+, III+ = A♭+, IV = B♭, V♭5 = C(♭5), vi° = D°, VII = E–G♭–B♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in F 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 F 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 F Neapolitan Major
Start with the music described above: listen for F 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 F Neapolitan Major scale?
The F Neapolitan Major scale contains F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, D and E.
What is the formula for the F Neapolitan Major scale?
F Neapolitan Major follows melodic minor with a flat second, so a minor third under a major sixth and seventh.
Is F Neapolitan Major a major or minor scale?
F Neapolitan Major is a neapolitan major scale. Melodic minor with a flat second - operatic, dramatic and angular.
What chords belong to the F Neapolitan Major scale?
The diatonic chords of F Neapolitan Major are Fm, G♭+, A♭+, B♭, C(♭5), D°, E–G♭–B♭.
Which genres use F 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 F Neapolitan Major scale on the piano?
On the piano F Neapolitan Major uses three black keys (G♭, A♭ and B♭) and four white.
What is the difference between F Neapolitan Major and F Melodic Minor?
On F, F Neapolitan Major has G♭ where F Melodic Minor has G; every other note is shared with F Melodic Minor (F G A♭ B♭ C D E).
How do I practise the F Neapolitan Major scale?
Lean on the flat second as a chromatic neighbour to the tonic - gives this scale its operatic gravitas.