D flat whole-tone scale on piano
The D flat whole-tone scale on piano has 6 notes: D flat, E flat, F, G, A, and C flat (D♭, E♭, F, G, A, C♭). It uses 2 black keys: D♭, E♭.
- D♭ D flat 1
- E♭ E flat 2
- F 3
- G ♯4
- A ♯5
- C♭ C flat ♭7
The highlighted keys are the notes of the scale, with the name and the degree; the tonic (D♭) has the strongest color. Tap a key to hear the note; "Play" goes up and down. The small dot marks middle C (C4).
Fingering for the D flat whole-tone scale
This scale has no single fingering in piano method books. A rule that works: never put the thumb on a black key, and pass the thumb right after a black key. Fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little finger.
Formula
- D♭
- W
- E♭
- W
- F
- W
- G
- W
- A
- W
- C♭
- W
- D♭
Degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · ♯4 · ♯5 · ♭7. Steps: W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the whole-tone scale
Six notes a whole step apart. Mysterious and dreamlike; fits augmented chords.
Scales with the same notes
More D flat scales
- Major
- Natural minor (C♯)
- Harmonic minor (C♯)
- Melodic minor (C♯)
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic (C♯)
- Blues (C♯)
- Major blues (C♯)
- Dorian (C♯)
- Phrygian (C♯)
- Lydian
- Mixolydian (C♯)
- Locrian (C♯)
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant (C♯)
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half) (C♯)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole) (C♯)
Whole-tone in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the D flat whole-tone scale?
The notes of the D flat whole-tone scale are D flat, E flat, F, G, A, and C flat. It uses 2 black keys: D♭, E♭.
What is the formula of the D flat whole-tone scale?
In degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · ♯4 · ♯5 · ♭7. In steps between notes: W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).