STRINGSCALES

D♭ harmonic major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11

A string: Bbb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bbb at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

D string: Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

G string: Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

B string: C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bbb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10

High E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11

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Db harmonic major

The harmonic major scale is a major scale with a flat 6th: bright below, shadowed above, with harmonic minor's augmented 2nd gap relocated between the 6th and 7th. It lets a major key borrow the minor iv chord without leaving the scale, a favorite bittersweet cadence from Schubert to the Beatles. Its modes include the lydian diminished scale.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

D♭

I

D♭maj
E♭

ii°

E♭dim
F

iii

Fm
G♭

iv

G♭m
A♭

V

A♭maj
B𝄫

bVI+

B𝄫aug
C

vii°

Cdim

Same notes, different mode

Db harmonic major uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

Gb lydian diminished

harmonic major in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Play Db major, then flatten only the 6th (A): that single change is harmonic major, brightness with one shadowed degree.
  • Its classic use is the minor iv chord in a major key: over IV minor in Db, this scale is the exact fit.
  • Lean on the bVI (A) to V half step at cadences, the borrowed-from-minor sigh inside a major key.
  • The augmented 2nd between bVI (A) and VII gives melodies an exotic lift right before the leading tone resolves to Db.

How to play D♭ harmonic major on guitar

Capo fret 1 and you are playing C shapes, which lets the fingering set you use most cover a key written with 5 flats. Only the open A string is in the scale, sitting as Bbb a minor sixth above the tonic, so drones are off the table and everything is fretted. Roots begin at fret 9 and the A-shape barre lands at 4. AbM is the V and Bbbaug the bVI+.

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