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 | F♯mG+A+BC♯(♭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 (F♯, C♯ and D♯) and four white. E♯ is the white key you'd normally call F.
F♯ · G · A · B · C♯ · D♯ · E♯
Try F♯ 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.
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 = F♯m, 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 F♯m, 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 (F♯, C♯ and D♯) and four white. E♯ is the white key you'd normally call F.
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.