Db Neapolitan Minor Scale
Notes in the Db Neapolitan Minor Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| ♭2 | Neapolitan 2nd | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | E | 329.628 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 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D | E |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | E | 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 minor | minor |
| ♭2 | D | D | major |
| ♭3 | E | E augmented | augmented |
| 4 | Gb | Gb minor | minor |
| 5 | Ab | Ab (complex) | other |
| ♭6 | A | A | major |
| 7 | C | C (complex) | other |
Key Signature
5 ♭ — The Db key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb.
Db Neapolitan Minor Scale in Practice
The Db Neapolitan Minor 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 Neapolitan minor scale combines the flat 2nd of the Neapolitan chord with the raised 7th of harmonic minor. It creates a particularly dramatic, tense sound used in classical and film music.
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 |
| 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 Neapolitan Minor 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.