Eb 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
- Eb 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
1Ebroot
b2Fbminor 2nd
b3Gbminor 3rd
4Abperfect 4th
5Bbperfect 5th
b6Cbminor 6th
7Dmajor 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
- EbHFbWGbWAbWBbHCbWHD
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IEbpoint of resttonic
IIIGbdefines modal qualitythird
VBbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIDD
IEbEb
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIGbGb
IVAbAb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IEbEb
IIFbFb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Eb 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.