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Key of Db

The key of D♭ major has five flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭). Its seven notes are D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, and C. Its relative minor is B♭ Minor, which shares the same notes and key signature. The chords that belong to the key are I D♭ major, ii E♭ minor, iii F minor, IV G♭ major, V A♭ major, vi B♭ minor, vii° C diminished. Its dominant is A♭ major and its subdominant is G♭ major — the keys it most naturally moves toward. Keys built on flats, like D♭ major, are traditionally described as warm and mellow.

Key Signature

The notes of the Db Major come from Db Major, so it carries that key signature: 5 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭).

B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭

Order of flats

Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.

B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭

Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father

Relative minor: B♭ Minor scale — same notes, same key signature, different home note.

Chords in the Key of D♭ Major

Every major key is built from seven diatonic chords — one on each note of the scale. In D♭ major they are I D♭ Major, ii E♭ Minor, iii F Minor, IV G♭ Major, V A♭ Major, vi B♭ Minor, and vii° C Diminished. Tap any chord to light it up on the keyboard.

C1C2C3C4FC5C6C7C8C#G#
I — D♭ Major (major)

Common chord progressions in D♭ major

  • I – IV – V — D♭ → G♭ → A♭ — the three primary chords
  • I – V – vi – IV — D♭ → A♭ → B♭ → G♭ — the most common pop progression
  • ii – V – I — E♭ → A♭ → D♭ — the backbone of jazz
  • I – vi – IV – V — D♭ → B♭ → G♭ → A♭ — the classic doo-wop turnaround

Everything in the key of Db

Every chord, scale, and mode in Db — click any link for the full interactive page with piano diagrams, audio, notation, and fingerings.

Db Chords

Db Major ChordDb Minor ChordDb Augmented ChordDb Diminished ChordDb Suspended 2nd ChordDb Suspended 4th ChordDb Major 6 ChordDb Minor 6th ChordDb Dominant 7th ChordDb Major 7th ChordDb Minor 7th ChordDb Minor Major 7th ChordDb Diminished 7th ChordDb Half Diminished ChordDb Augmented 7th ChordDb Dominant 7th Sharp 11 ChordDb Add 9 ChordDb Major 9th ChordDb Minor 9th ChordDb Major 11th ChordDb Minor 11th ChordDb Major 13th ChordDb Minor 13th ChordDb Dominant 9th ChordDb Dominant 7th ♭5 ChordDb Major 6/9 ChordDb Power ChordDb Dominant 11th ChordDb Dominant 13th ChordDb Dominant 7th sus4 ChordDb Dominant 9th sus4 ChordDb Dominant 13th sus4 ChordDb Dominant 7th ♭9 ChordDb Dominant 7th ♯9 ChordDb Dominant 7th ♭13 ChordDb Dominant 7th ♯5 ChordDb Dominant 9th ♭5 ChordDb Dominant 9th ♯5 ChordDb Dominant 7th ♭9 ♯11 ChordDb Dominant 7th ♯9 ♯11 ChordDb Dominant 7th ♭5 ♯9 ChordDb Minor 11th ♭5 ChordDb Minor 13th ♭5 ChordDb Add 4 ChordDb Minor Add 9 ChordDb Minor Add 11 ChordDb Major 7♯5 ChordDb Major 7♭5 ChordDb Minor 7♯5 ChordDb Major 7♯11 ChordDb Major 9♯11 ChordDb Dominant 9♯11 ChordDb Diminished Major 7th Chord

Db Scales

Db Major ScaleDb Minor ScaleDb Major Pentatonic ScaleDb Minor Pentatonic ScaleDb Major Blues ScaleDb Minor Blues ScaleDb Harmonic Minor ScaleDb Melodic Minor ScaleDb Chromatic ScaleDb Altered ScaleDb Phrygian Dominant ScaleDb Locrian Sharp 2 ScaleDb Lydian Dominant ScaleDb Whole Tone ScaleDb Whole-Half Diminished ScaleDb Half-Whole Diminished ScaleDb Major Bebop ScaleDb Dominant Bebop ScaleDb Minor Bebop ScaleDb Harmonic Major ScaleDb Double Harmonic ScaleDb Hungarian Minor ScaleDb Major b6 Pentatonic ScaleDb Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale

Db Modes

Db Ionian1st Mode · = Major ScaleDb Dorian2nd Mode of MajorDb Phrygian3rd Mode of MajorDb Lydian4th Mode of MajorDb Mixolydian5th Mode of MajorDb Aeolian6th Mode · = Natural MinorDb Locrian7th Mode of Major
CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭BC♭