Db Neapolitan major
A Phrygian lower tetrachord combines with natural 6th and 7th degrees; the lower and upper parts of the scale contrast.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- Db Neapolitan major
- Family
- Exotic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- H – W – W – W – W – W – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-1-2-2-2-2-2-1
Notes & degrees
1Dbroot
b2Dminor 2nd
b3Fbminor 3rd
4Gbperfect 4th
5Abperfect 5th
6Bbmajor 6th
7Cmajor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- A Phrygian lower tetrachord combines with natural 6th and 7th degrees; the lower and upper parts of the scale contrast.
- Application in music
- The lowered 2nd supports bII – I, while major 6th and 7th degrees distinguish the scale from Neapolitan minor.
- Interval formula
- DbHDWFbWGbWAbWBbWC
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IDbpoint of resttonic
IIIFbdefines modal qualitythird
VAbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIICC
IDbDb
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIFbFb
IVGbGb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IDbDb
IIDD
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Db Neapolitan major 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.