A Neapolitan Major Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Double Drop D tuning — fretboard diagram
A Neapolitan Major in Double Drop D — Notes and Intervals
The A Neapolitan Major scale is a sophisticated and bright variation of the Neapolitan minor. On Guitar, the notes are A, Bb, C, D, E, F#, G#. It provides a chromatic, Spanish feel that is often used in classical music to approach the home key with an elegant, unexpected twist. Commonly used in Classical, Opera, Film Scores. Notable players include Chopin, Verdi, Puccini. Use over bII-V-I cadences. The source of the Neapolitan sixth chord, one of classical music's most elegant chromatic devices.
Notes: A, Bb, C, D, E, F#, G#
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7M
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 5 6 7
Formula: H-W-W-W-W-W-H
Number of notes: 7
Tuning: Double Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-D)
About Double Drop D Tuning
Double Drop D tuning (D-A-D-G-B-D) lowers both the 6th and 1st strings from E to D, creating a symmetrical frame of D notes around the standard middle four strings. This gives a distinctly resonant, jangly character that has been beloved in folk-rock and acoustic music since the late 1960s.
Neil Young used Double Drop D extensively — 'Cinnamon Girl' features its distinctive droning riff, and 'The Needle and the Damage Done' showcases its intimate fingerpicking potential. Jimmy Page used it on Led Zeppelin's 'Going to California'. Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain' also employs this tuning. Because only two strings change (both by just one whole step), Double Drop D is one of the easiest alternate tunings to learn — most standard chord shapes on the inner four strings remain unchanged.
Notable artists: Neil Young, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Fleetwood Mac, Crosby Stills Nash & Young
Best for: Folk-rock songwriting, D-centric acoustic arrangements, droning fingerpicking patterns, and any song that benefits from rich D-string resonance on both outer strings
Musical Character
The b2 creates a chromatic, Spanish-flavored approach to the tonic — the famous 'Neapolitan chord' (bII) derives its name from this scale's use in Neapolitan opera.
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- A Neapolitan Major in Standard Tuning
- A Neapolitan Major in Drop D
- A Neapolitan Major in DADGAD
- A Neapolitan Major in Open G
- A Neapolitan Major in Baritone (B Standard)
- A Neapolitan Major in 7-string
- A Neapolitan Major in 8-string
- A Neapolitan Major in Drop C
- A Neapolitan Major in Drop B
- A Neapolitan Major in Open D
- A Neapolitan Major in Half Step Down
- A Neapolitan Major in Open E
- A Neapolitan Major in Open A
- A Neapolitan Major in Open C