STRINGSCALES

D♭ major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

A string: Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

D string: Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

G string: Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

B string: C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11

High E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

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Db major

The major scale is the reference point of Western harmony: seven notes in the familiar whole and half step pattern, with a leading tone that pulls firmly back to the root. Chords, key signatures and all seven modes are measured against it. It resolves so naturally that it carries most pop, folk, classical and country writing, and learning it across the whole fretboard gives you the map every other scale on this site is drawn on.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

D♭

I

D♭maj
E♭

ii

E♭m
F

iii

Fm
G♭

IV

G♭maj
A♭

V

A♭maj
B♭

vi

B♭m
C

vii°

Cdim

Same notes, different mode

Db 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.

Eb dorianF phrygianGb lydianAb mixolydianBb minor · relative minorC locrian

major in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Map the Db major scale through all five CAGED positions, then practice moving between neighboring positions along one string so the whole neck connects.
  • Over a I-IV-V progression in Db, land chord tones on the downbeats: root, 3rd (F) and 5th (Ab) of whichever chord is sounding.
  • The scale's pull comes from its half steps: resolve the leading tone (C) up to Db and the 4th (Gb) down to the 3rd (F) to make phrases sound finished.
  • Harmonize the scale in diatonic 3rds and 6ths on adjacent string pairs; it is instant melodic rhythm-guitar vocabulary in Db.

How to play D♭ major on guitar

A capo at fret 1 converts the whole key into C fingerings, which means your open-position vocabulary carries over one fret up. Without it, no open string lands in Db major, so every note sits under a fretting finger. Barre players get the A-shape at fret 4 and the E-shape at fret 9, covering the key without open-string help. Bb minor is the relative minor. At fret 13 the root-anchored box ends, so the shift into the next position happens right there.

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