Neapolitan Scales

The Neapolitan scales are a group of exotic scales you can learn to play to breath new life into your melodic lines. The Neapolitan name implies these scale pertain to Naples, a city in Italy however, I am unsure of their true origin. But Just like Neapolitan ice cream (or the Italian flag), they come in three different flavors; the Neapolitan (Chocolate), the Neapolitan minor (Vanilla), and the Neapolitan Major (Strawberry). Despite their names, these scales are all considered minor scales.

Interactive Neapolitan scale generator

Use the interactive app below to generate fretboard scale charts of Neapolitan scales in all keys with customized tunings.
Be sure you have JavaScript enabled in your web browser for the generator to function correctly.

Select a tuning (default is standard tuning) then select a key.

Switch to:
7 string guitar
6 string guitar
Bass Guitar

Neapolitan keys

A | E | B | F# | C# | G# | D | G | C | F | Bb | Eb

Neapolitan minor keys

A | E | B | F# | C# | G# | D | G | C | F | Bb | Eb

Neapolitan Major keys

C | G | D | A | E | B | F | Bb | Eb |Ab | Db | Gb