Ab Neapolitan Major Scale
Notes in the Ab Neapolitan Major Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| ♭2 | Neapolitan 2nd | A | 440.000 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | B | 493.883 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | Eb | 311.127 Hz |
| 6 | Major Submediant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | G | 391.995 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Ab | A |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A | B |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | Db |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Db | Eb |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Eb | F |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G | Ab |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ab | Ab minor | minor |
| ♭2 | A | A augmented | augmented |
| ♭3 | B | B augmented | augmented |
| 4 | Db | Db | major |
| 5 | Eb | Eb (complex) | other |
| 6 | F | F diminished | diminished |
| 7 | G | G (complex) | other |
Key Signature
4 ♭ — The Ab key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db.
Ab Neapolitan Major Scale in Practice
The Ab Neapolitan Major Scale uses the key signature of 4 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db). Ab major has four flats and a full, somewhat dark sound. It is a common key in Romantic piano music and is frequently encountered in orchestral and choral writing. On guitar, Ab positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
The Neapolitan major scale starts with a half step and flat 2nd degree, derived from the Neapolitan chord in classical harmony. It has a rich, romantic character used in classical and contemporary composition.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| Db | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| Eb | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Ab Neapolitan Major Scale
Ab is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce Ab concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Ab sound a major sixth lower.