Db Harmonic minor
Natural minor with a raised 7th; the leading tone strengthens the pull toward the tonic.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- Db Harmonic minor
- Family
- Harmonic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – H – W – W – H – W+H – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-1-2-2-1-3-1
Notes & degrees
1Dbroot
2Ebmajor 2nd
b3Fbminor 3rd
4Gbperfect 4th
5Abperfect 5th
b6Aminor 6th
7Cmajor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- Natural minor with a raised 7th; the leading tone strengthens the pull toward the tonic.
- Application in music
- The raised 7th produces major V and dominant V7 chords in minor.
- Interval formula
- DbWEbHFbWGbWAbHAWHC
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IDbpoint of resttonic
IIIFbdefines modal qualitythird
VAbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIICC
IDbDb
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIFbFb
IVGbGb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IDbDb
IIEbEb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Db Harmonic minor looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.