Neapolitan scale

In music, the major Neapolitan scale and the minor Neapolitan scale are two musical scales, one minor, one major.

The sequence of scale steps Neapolitan minor is as follows^[1]:

1  b2 b3  4  5  b6 7  8
A  Bb  C  D  E  F  G# A
[ h   w  w  w  h  A  h
C  Db  Eb F  G  Ab B  C]

And for Neapolitan major^[1]:

1  b2 b3  4  5  6  7  8
A  Bb  C  D  E  F# G# A
[ h   w  w  w  w  w  h
C  Db  Eb F  G  A  B  C]

Thus the scales are distinguished from the harmonic and ascending melodic minor scales by the flattened supertonic or second scale degree.

Both are accompanied well by power or minor chords^[1].

Neapolitan minor may also be called or refer to the Hungarian Gypsy scale and Neapolitan major may also be called or Lydian major scale^[3].

See also

• Neapolitan chord
• Neapolitan school

Sources

1. ^ ^{a b c} Celentano, Dave (1991). Monster Scales and Modes, p.44. Published by CentreStream. ISBN 0931759595.
2. ^ Cooper, Paul (1973). Perspectives in Music Theory: An Historical-Analytical Approach, p.18. ISBN 0-396-06752-2.
3. ^ Kadmon, Adam (1998). The Guitar Grimoire Progressions & Improvisation, p.280. ISBN 0825831970.