Bb Neapolitan Minor Scale
Notes in the Bb Neapolitan Minor Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Bb | 466.164 Hz |
| ♭2 | Neapolitan 2nd | B | 493.883 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Eb | 311.127 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor Submediant | Gb | 369.994 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | A | 440.000 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Bb | B |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | Db |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Db | Eb |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Eb | F |
| 5 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F | Gb |
| 6 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | Gb | A |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A | Bb |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bb | Bb minor | minor |
| ♭2 | B | B | major |
| ♭3 | Db | Db augmented | augmented |
| 4 | Eb | Eb minor | minor |
| 5 | F | F (complex) | other |
| ♭6 | Gb | Gb | major |
| 7 | A | A (complex) | other |
Key Signature
2 ♭ — The Bb key signature uses Bb, Eb.
Bb Neapolitan Minor Scale in Practice
The Bb Neapolitan Minor Scale uses the key signature of 2 flats (Bb, Eb). Bb major has two flats (Bb, Eb) and is extremely common in jazz and wind ensemble music. It is the home key for Bb instruments such as the trumpet and tenor saxophone. On guitar, Bb positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
The Neapolitan minor scale combines the flat 2nd of the Neapolitan chord with the raised 7th of harmonic minor. It creates a particularly dramatic, tense sound used in classical and film music.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bb | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 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 |
| Gb | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Bb Neapolitan Minor Scale
Bb 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 Bb concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Bb sound a major sixth lower.