Db Diminished Scale (Half-Whole)
Notes in the Db Diminished Scale (Half-Whole)
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| ♭2 | Altered 2nd | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | E | 329.628 Hz |
| 3 | Major Mediant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| ♯4 | Tritone | G | 391.995 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| 6 | Major Submediant | Bb | 466.164 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | B | 493.883 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Db | D |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D | E |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E | F |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 5 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G | Ab |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Ab | Bb |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Bb | B |
| 8 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | Db |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Db | Db diminished | diminished |
| ♭2 | D | D diminished | diminished |
| ♭3 | E | E diminished | diminished |
| 3 | F | F diminished | diminished |
| ♯4 | G | G diminished | diminished |
| 5 | Ab | Ab diminished | diminished |
| 6 | Bb | Bb diminished | diminished |
| ♭7 | B | B diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
5 ♭ — The Db key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb.
Db Diminished Scale (Half-Whole) in Practice
The Db Diminished Scale (Half-Whole) 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 half-whole diminished scale alternates half and whole steps, creating an 8-note symmetrical scale ideal for dominant chord improvisation and tension-building in jazz.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Db | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| Bb | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Db Diminished Scale (Half-Whole)
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.