G♯ Neapolitan Minor at a glance
Neapolitan minor got popular in 18th-century Italian opera. Works great for dark, dramatic classical and film scoring contexts. 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 H W+H H |
| Chords in the key | G♯mAB+C♯mD♯(♭5)EF𝄪–A–C♯ |
Chords in the G♯ Neapolitan Minor scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
G♯ Neapolitan Minor on the piano
Improvisation drone · G♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano G♯ Neapolitan Minor uses three black keys (G♯, C♯ and D♯) and four white. F𝄪 is the white key you'd normally call G.
G♯ · A · B · C♯ · D♯ · E · F𝄪
Play G♯ Neapolitan Minor on the online piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
G♯ Neapolitan Minor on the guitar
G♯ Neapolitan Minor - fr 0–12
G♯ Neapolitan Minor on the staff
Notes of the G♯ Neapolitan Minor 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 | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | F𝄪 | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes G♯ Neapolitan Minor different
Neapolitan minor is harmonic minor with a lowered second. That ♭2 is the only note separating it from harmonic minor, and it builds the Neapolitan ♭II chord into the scale. Its first four notes match Phrygian while its top half matches harmonic minor, leading tone included. The result is a minor scale with half steps on both sides of the tonic. On G♯, G♯ Neapolitan Minor has A where G♯ Harmonic Minor has A♯; every other note is shared with G♯ Harmonic Minor (G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F𝄪).
How to use the G♯ Neapolitan Minor scale
The diatonic chords of G♯ Neapolitan Minor are: i = G♯m, II = A, III+ = B+, iv = C♯m, 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 Minor. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Neapolitan minor got popular in 18th-century Italian opera. Works great for dark, dramatic classical and film scoring contexts.
Practice tips
Practise this alongside harmonic minor to feel the difference that flat second makes.
Formula & step pattern
The G♯ Neapolitan Minor scale follows harmonic minor with a flat second degree, popularised by Italian opera. Step pattern: H - W - W - W - H - W+H - 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 Minor
Start with the music described above: listen for G♯ Neapolitan Minor 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 Minor scale?
The G♯ Neapolitan Minor scale contains G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯, E and F𝄪.
What is the formula for the G♯ Neapolitan Minor scale?
G♯ Neapolitan Minor follows harmonic minor with a flat second degree, popularised by Italian opera.
Is G♯ Neapolitan Minor a major or minor scale?
G♯ Neapolitan Minor is a neapolitan minor scale. Harmonic minor with a flat second - dark, classical and instantly recognisable.
What chords belong to the G♯ Neapolitan Minor scale?
The diatonic chords of G♯ Neapolitan Minor are G♯m, A, B+, C♯m, D♯(♭5), E, F𝄪–A–C♯.
Which genres use G♯ Neapolitan Minor?
Neapolitan minor got popular in 18th-century Italian opera. Works great for dark, dramatic classical and film scoring contexts.
How do you play the G♯ Neapolitan Minor scale on the piano?
On the piano G♯ Neapolitan Minor uses three black keys (G♯, C♯ and D♯) and four white. F𝄪 is the white key you'd normally call G.
What is the difference between G♯ Neapolitan Minor and G♯ Harmonic Minor?
On G♯, G♯ Neapolitan Minor has A where G♯ Harmonic Minor has A♯; every other note is shared with G♯ Harmonic Minor (G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F𝄪).
How do I practise the G♯ Neapolitan Minor scale?
Practise this alongside harmonic minor to feel the difference that flat second makes.