Db Chromatic Scale

Notes in the Db Chromatic Scale

Interval Pattern

Harmony

The chromatic scale contains all 12 pitch classes and has no diatonic harmony — all chromatic passages use all pitches equally. See individual chord types for specific harmonic structures.

Key Signature

5 ♭ — The Db key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb.

Db Chromatic Scale in Practice

The Db Chromatic Scale uses the key signature of 5 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb). Db major has five flats and is enharmonically equivalent to C# major. It has a warm, veiled quality and appears in Romantic piano literature and jazz compositions. On guitar, Db positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.

The chromatic scale includes all 12 pitches within an octave, each a half step apart. It has no tonal center and is used as a reference for all other scales and as a compositional device.

Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments

Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.

Related Scales

Transposing Instruments: Db Chromatic Scale

Db 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 Db concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Db sound a major sixth lower.