Classical · Advanced · minor key

Neapolitan (i–♭II–V–i)

i – ♭II – V – i — The ♭II major chord (the "Neapolitan") makes the V–i resolution extra dramatic.

Chord shapes in A minor (standard tuning)

Using a different tuning? Open it in the Looper — it finds playable shapes for whatever tuning you choose.

How the chords work

Written in Roman numerals, this progression is i – ♭II – V – i — in A minor that is Am – Bb – E – Am. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.

• i — the minor home chord.
• ♭II — a major chord a half step above home: exotic and tense.
• V — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.

Neapolitan (i–♭II–V–i) in all 12 keys

Practice ideas

• Beginners: play one strum per chord and say the chord names out loud, then two strums, then a steady down-down-up-up-down-up pattern.
• Change keys with a capo: keep the A minor shapes and move a capo up — the capo calculator shows which fret gives the key you want.
• Solo over it: loop it in the Looper and improvise with the A minor pentatonic or A natural minor or A blues scale — the scale pages show every position and play a backing track.
• Train your ear: the progression ear trainer mixes this with similar progressions until you can tell them apart.

Similar progressions

• Romanesca ♭III – ♭VII – i – V – ♭III – ♭VII – i – V
• La Folia i – V – i – ♭VII – ♭III – ♭VII – i – V
• i–iv–i–V i – iv – i – V
• Descending lament (i–♭VII–♭VI–V) i – ♭VII – ♭VI – V7
• i–ii°–V–i (classical minor) i – ii° – V – i
• Picardy third (i–iv–V–I) i – iv – V – I

← Harmonic-minor i–iv–V7 · i–♭VI–V →

← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one

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