Bb Neapolitan minor
Minor with lowered 2nd and 6th degrees and a raised 7th; the leading tone and augmented 2nd increase tension.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- Bb Neapolitan minor
- Family
- Exotic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- H – W – W – W – H – W+H – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-1-2-2-2-1-3-1
Notes & degrees
1Bbroot
b2Cbminor 2nd
b3Dbminor 3rd
4Ebperfect 4th
5Fperfect 5th
b6Gbminor 6th
7Amajor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- Minor with lowered 2nd and 6th degrees and a raised 7th; the leading tone and augmented 2nd increase tension.
- Application in music
- The lowered 2nd supports Neapolitan bII harmony, while the major 7th preserves the leading tone to the minor tonic.
- Interval formula
- BbHCbWDbWEbWFHGbWHA
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IBbpoint of resttonic
IIIDbdefines modal qualitythird
VFsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIAA
IBbBb
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIDbDb
IVEbEb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IBbBb
IICbCb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Bb Neapolitan minor looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.