D♭ Harmonic Major at a glance
Harmonic major is a modern jazz favourite - mixes the brightness of major with the colour of a flat sixth. Also shows up in film scoring and progressive metal. Built on the root D♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where D♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B𝄫 C |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7M |
| Step pattern | W W H W H W+H H |
| Chords in the key | D♭E♭°FmG♭mA♭B𝄫+C° |
Chords in the D♭ Harmonic Major scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
D♭ Harmonic Major on the piano
Improvisation drone · D♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano D♭ Harmonic Major uses four black keys (D♭, E♭, G♭ and A♭) and three white. B𝄫 is the white key you'd normally call A.
D♭ · E♭ · F · G♭ · A♭ · B𝄫 · C
Play D♭ Harmonic Major on the online piano
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D♭ Harmonic Major on the guitar
D♭ Harmonic Major - fr 0–12
D♭ Harmonic Major on the staff
Notes of the D♭ Harmonic Major scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | E♭ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | F | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | G♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | A♭ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | B𝄫 | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | C | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes D♭ Harmonic Major different
Harmonic major is the major scale with a lowered sixth, the one note that separates it from major. The ♭6 opens an augmented second between the sixth and seventh degrees, the same gap harmonic minor has, but over a major tonic. It changes the subdominant: the iv chord is minor while V stays major, so the minor iv to I cadence is built into the scale. Its ♭VI chord is augmented. On D♭, D♭ Harmonic Major has B𝄫 where D♭ Major has B♭; every other note is shared with D♭ Major (D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C).
How to use the D♭ Harmonic Major scale
The diatonic chords of D♭ Harmonic Major are: I = D♭, ii° = E♭°, iii = Fm, iv = G♭m, V = A♭, VI+ = B𝄫+, vii° = C°. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in D♭ Harmonic Major. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Harmonic major is a modern jazz favourite - mixes the brightness of major with the colour of a flat sixth. Also shows up in film scoring and progressive metal.
Practice tips
Highlight the flat sixth over a major triad - it's the only note that distinguishes harmonic major from the standard major scale.
Formula & step pattern
The D♭ Harmonic Major scale follows a major scale with a flat sixth degree, blending major brightness with minor color. Step pattern: W - W - H - W - H - W+H - H. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7M. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear D♭ Harmonic Major
Start with the music described above: listen for D♭ Harmonic Major in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the D♭ Harmonic Major scale?
The D♭ Harmonic Major scale contains D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B𝄫 and C.
What is the formula for the D♭ Harmonic Major scale?
D♭ Harmonic Major follows a major scale with a flat sixth degree, blending major brightness with minor color.
Is D♭ Harmonic Major a major or minor scale?
D♭ Harmonic Major is a harmonic major scale. Major scale with a flat sixth - bright tonic with a darker undertone, popular in modern jazz.
What chords belong to the D♭ Harmonic Major scale?
The diatonic chords of D♭ Harmonic Major are D♭, E♭°, Fm, G♭m, A♭, B𝄫+, C°.
Which genres use D♭ Harmonic Major?
Harmonic major is a modern jazz favourite - mixes the brightness of major with the colour of a flat sixth. Also shows up in film scoring and progressive metal.
How do you play the D♭ Harmonic Major scale on the piano?
On the piano D♭ Harmonic Major uses four black keys (D♭, E♭, G♭ and A♭) and three white. B𝄫 is the white key you'd normally call A.
What is the difference between D♭ Harmonic Major and D♭ Major?
On D♭, D♭ Harmonic Major has B𝄫 where D♭ Major has B♭; every other note is shared with D♭ Major (D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C).
How do I practise the D♭ Harmonic Major scale?
Highlight the flat sixth over a major triad - it's the only note that distinguishes harmonic major from the standard major scale.