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D♭ leading whole tone Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, A, B, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11

A string: A, B, C, Db, Eb, F, G, A at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

D string: Eb, F, G, A, B, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

G string: G, A, B, C, Db, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

B string: B, C, Db, Eb, F, G, A, B at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

High E string: F, G, A, B, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11

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Db leading whole tone

The leading whole tone scale, the second mode of the neapolitan major scale, is a whole tone scale with a major 7th bolted on. Five whole steps float exactly as expected, then the leading tone suddenly offers a way home. That built-in escape hatch makes it more usable than the pure whole tone scale in tonal contexts.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

D♭

I+

D♭aug
E♭

II+

E♭aug
F

III

Fmaj
G

#IV

Gmaj♭5
A

#v°

Adim
B

#VI

D♭7no5/B
C

vii

Cm

Same notes, different mode

Db leading whole tone 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.

Eb lydian augmented dominantF lydian dominant b6G major locrianA half-diminished b4B altered dominant double b3C neapolitan major

leading whole tone in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Float through the whole tone bottom (root to #V (A) in whole steps), then use the major 7th (C) as the escape hatch to the root.
  • Over an augmented chord resolving to a major chord, this scale scripts the resolution: dreamy first, decisive at the end.
  • Delay the VII: the longer the whole tone blur lasts, the stronger the leading tone lands.
  • It is the second mode of neapolitan major; the same notes a whole step below Db give the neapolitan major scale.

How to play D♭ leading whole tone on guitar

Nothing rings open as a root here, but open A, G and B all belong, sitting an augmented fifth, augmented fourth and augmented sixth above Db. A capo at fret 1 turns everything into C fingerings, which lets you borrow shapes you already own. Roots climb from fret 2 up to fret 11. Lowest in pitch is fret 9 on the low E, so an E-shape barre there frames a box that closes at fret 13.

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