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♯, C♯ and D♯) and four white. E♯ and F𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call F and G.
G♯ · A · B · C♯ · D♯ · E♯ · F𝄪
Play G♯ Neapolitan Major on the online 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♯, C♯ and D♯) and four white. E♯ and F𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call F and G.
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.