Db Double Harmonic Major Scale
Notes in the Db Double Harmonic Major Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| ♭2 | Phrygian 2nd | D | 293.665 Hz |
| 3 | Major Mediant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Gb | 369.994 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor Submediant | A | 440.000 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | C | 261.626 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Db | D |
| 2 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | D | F |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F | Gb |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Gb | Ab |
| 5 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Ab | A |
| 6 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | A | C |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | C | Db |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Db | Db | major |
| ♭2 | D | D | major |
| 3 | F | F minor | minor |
| 4 | Gb | Gb minor | minor |
| 5 | Ab | Ab (complex) | other |
| ♭6 | A | A augmented | augmented |
| 7 | C | C (complex) | other |
Key Signature
5 ♭ — The Db key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb.
Db Double Harmonic Major Scale in Practice
The Db Double Harmonic Major 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 double harmonic major scale features two augmented second intervals, creating a dramatic, exotic sound. It is prominent in Arabic and Byzantine music and is also known as the Gypsy major or Arabic scale.
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 |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| Gb | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Db Double Harmonic Major 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.