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

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.

G Neapolitan Major at a glance
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	Gm A♭+B♭+CD(♭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.

iGm
II+A♭+
III+B♭+
IVC
V♭5D(♭5)
vi°E°
VIIF♯–A♭–C

G Neapolitan Major on the piano

Tempo96 BPM

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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 (A♭, B♭ and F♯) and four white.

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

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G Neapolitan Major - fr 0–12

G Neapolitan Major on the staff

Notes of the G Neapolitan Major scale

Degree	Note	Interval	Semitones
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 = Gm, 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 Gm, A♭+, B♭+, C, D(♭5), E°, F♯–A♭–C.

Which genres use G Neapolitan Major?