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