Chord Colors

B Neapolitan Minor scale

About the B Neapolitan Minor scale

B Neapolitan Minor is used for classical minor-key writing, opera and dramatic film scoring. Think of it as a harmonic minor scale with an added flat second, dark and classical. It is B Phrygian with the seventh raised.

Its notes are B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. The formula is H W W W H 1½ H.

Also called Neapolitan and Balinese.

Learn more about the B Neapolitan Minor scale

On the piano, B Neapolitan Minor touches the black keys F and A. The key lines up four white keys back to back.

Notes and intervals

1BBRoot
2CCMinor 2nd
3DDMinor 3rd
4EEPerfect 4th
5F#F♯Perfect 5th
6GGMinor 6th
7A#A♯Major 7th
StepsH W W W H 1½ H
Semitones1-2-2-2-1-3-1
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Fingering

Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules

Hand BCDEF sharpGA sharpB
Right hand12312345
Left hand43214321

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Neapolitan Minor in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

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B Neapolitan Minor scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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