Db Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
Notes in the Db Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | Eb | 311.127 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | E | 329.628 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Gb | 369.994 Hz |
| ♭5 | Tritone | G | 391.995 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor Submediant | A | 440.000 Hz |
| 6 | Major Submediant | Bb | 466.164 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | C | 261.626 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Db | Eb |
| 2 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Eb | E |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | E | Gb |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Gb | G |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | G | A |
| 6 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A | Bb |
| 7 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Bb | C |
| 8 | Half Step (H) | 1 | C | Db |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Db | Db diminished | diminished |
| 2 | Eb | Eb diminished | diminished |
| ♭3 | E | E diminished | diminished |
| 4 | Gb | Gb diminished | diminished |
| ♭5 | G | G diminished | diminished |
| ♭6 | A | A diminished | diminished |
| 6 | Bb | Bb diminished | diminished |
| 7 | C | C diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
5 ♭ — The Db key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb.
Db Diminished Scale (Whole-Half) in Practice
The Db Diminished Scale (Whole-Half) 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 whole-half diminished scale alternates whole and half steps, creating an 8-note symmetrical scale. It is used over diminished chords and in jazz improvisation.
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 |
| Eb | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| Gb | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| Bb | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Db Diminished Scale (Whole-Half)
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.