Db Locrian Mode
Notes in the Db Locrian Mode
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| ♭2 | Phrygian 2nd | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | E | 329.628 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Gb | 369.994 Hz |
| ♭5 | Diminished 5th | G | 391.995 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor Submediant | A | 440.000 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 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | E | Gb |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Gb | G |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | G | A |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A | B |
| 7 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | Db |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Db | Db diminished | diminished |
| ♭2 | D | D | major |
| ♭3 | E | E minor | minor |
| 4 | Gb | Gb minor | minor |
| ♭5 | G | G | major |
| ♭6 | A | A | major |
| ♭7 | B | B minor | minor |
Key Signature
5 ♭ — The Db key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb.
Db Locrian Mode in Practice
The Db Locrian Mode 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 Locrian mode is the darkest and most dissonant of all modes, featuring a flat 2nd and flat 5th. It is rarely used melodically but appears in jazz as the basis for half-diminished harmony.
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 |
| 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 |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Db Locrian Mode
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.