D♭ Major Scale (Db)
The Db major scale (also called Db Ionian) contains Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C. Its key signature has 5 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db and Gb. It uses the same piano keys as C# major, spelled C# – D# – E# – F# – G# – A# – B# (7 sharps).
| Note | Db | Eb | F | Gb | Ab | Bb | C | Db |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
Db major scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to F and C. Left hand, going up: finger 4 crosses over the thumb to Gb and finger 3 crosses over the thumb to Db. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
Db major has 5 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db and Gb. Its relative minor is Bb minor, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of C# major and of Bb minor.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from Db |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Db | 0 |
| 2 | Eb | 2 |
| 3 | F | 4 |
| 4 | Gb | 5 |
| 5 | Ab | 7 |
| 6 | Bb | 9 |
| 7 | C | 11 |
Step pattern
The Major scale is built from the pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in Db Major
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in Db Major.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | Db | Db F Ab |
| 2 | ii | Ebm | Eb Gb Bb |
| 3 | iii | Fm | F Ab C |
| 4 | IV | Gb | Gb Bb Db |
| 5 | V | Ab | Ab C Eb |
| 6 | vi | Bbm | Bb Db F |
| 7 | vii° | Cdim | C Eb Gb |
Other modes on C# (the same keys as Db)
More scales on C# (the same keys as Db)
Major scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Db Major scale?
The Db Major scale contains Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, then returns to Db an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the Db major scale on piano?
Going up from Db to Db, the right hand plays 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 and the left hand plays 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many flats are in Db major?
Db major has 5 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db and Gb.
What is the step pattern of the Major scale?
The Major scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the Db Major scale?
The diatonic chords are Db, Ebm, Fm, Gb, Ab, Bbm, Cdim. Each is built only from notes of the Db Major scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.