Learning guitar scales improves technique and allows you to improvise and do your own songwriting. This article on the D Flat Minor scale will cover its music theory, staff diagrams, guitar patterns on the fretboard, guitar tabs, fingerings, modes, chords, associated/related scales, and other details.
Read the complete D Flat Minor scale article below to know all the essential information!
D Flat Minor Scale Notes
The notes any natural minor scale are given by the formula {W H W W H W W} using Db as the first note:
- 1st Note – Root – Db
- 2nd Note – M2 – Eb
- 3rd Note – m3 – Fb
- 4th Note – P4 – Gb
- 5th Note – P5 – Ab
- 6th Note – m6 – Bbb
- 7th Note – m7 – Cb
The notes of the Db Minor scale are {Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb, and Db(O)}, where Db(O) is the Db note one octave higher than the root.
From the above notes, you can see that the key signature of the D Flat natural minor scale has six flats and one double flat. Playing it on a piano keyboard requires three white and four black piano keys. The notes of the Db natural minor scale on the Piano Keyboard are shown below.

The D Flat harmonic minor scale notes are Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb, C, and Db(O).
The notes of the D flat melodic minor scale (ascending) are Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, and Db(O).
Scale Degrees
Intervals | Root | M2 | m3 | P4 | P5 | m6/M6 | m7/M7 | P8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scale Degrees | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1(8) |
Natural Minor | Db | Eb | Fb | Gb | Ab | Bbb | Cb | Db(O) |
Harmonic Minor | Db | Eb | Fb | Gb | Ab | Bbb | C | Db(O) |
Melodic Minor | Db | Eb | Fb | Gb | Ab | Bb | C | Db(O) |
D Flat Minor Scale On The Treble And Bass Clef:
Treble Clef:

Bass Clef:

D Flat Minor Scale Guitar Positions
Linked CAGED Patterns.
The Db Flat Minor scale exists in a straight line on the B string.

Five CAGED Patterns

Guitar Tabs For The CAGED Patterns
E Shaped Scale Pattern

D Shaped Pattern

C Shaped Pattern

A Shaped Pattern

G Shaped Pattern

Fingering Arrangement For Scale Patterns

The Chords Of The D Flat Minor Key?
Scale Degrees | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chord Designation | i | iidim | III | iv | v | VI | VII |
Chord Names | Dbm | Ebdim | Fb | Gbm | Abm | Bbb | Cb |
Chord Quality | minor | diminished | Major | minor | minor | Major | Major |
The following triad chords result from the D Flat minor scale.
- Three Major chords – III, VI, and VII – Fb major, Bbb major, and Cb major.
- Three minor chords – i, iv, and v – Dbm, Gbm, and Abm.
- One diminished chord, the ii°, Ebdim.
- Dominant Chord – Ab major formed from the 5th scale degree of the Db Harmonic Minor scale.
Note Names In These Triad Chords.
Scale Degrees | Intervals | Chord Notes | Chord Name |
---|---|---|---|
1 | R – Db – m3 – Fb – M3 – Ab | Db – Fb – Ab | Dbm |
2 | R – Eb – m3 – Gb – m3 – Bbb | Eb – Gb – Bbb | Ebdim |
3 | R – Fb – M3 – Ab – m3 – Cb | Fb – Ab – Cb | Fb |
4 | R – Gb – m3 – Bbb – M3 – Db | Gb – Bbb – Db | Gbm |
5 | R – Ab – m3 – Cb – M3 – Eb | Ab – Cb – Eb | Abm |
6 | R – Bbb – M3 – Db – m3 – Fb | Bbb – Db – Fb | Bbb |
7 | R – Cb – M3 – Eb – m3 – Gb | Cb – Eb – Gb | Cb |
7th Chords Of D Flat Minor Scale
Scale Degrees | Chord Name | Roman N Designation | Chord Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Dbm7 | im7 | Db - Fb - Ab - Cb |
2 | Ebm7b5 | iiø7 | Eb - Gb - Bbb - Db |
3 | FbMaj7 | IIIM7 | Fb - Ab - Cb - Eb |
4 | Gbm7 | ivm7 | Gb - Bbb - Db - Fb |
5 | Abm7 | vm7 | Ab – Cb – Eb - Gb |
6 | BbbMaj7 | VIM7 | Bbb – Db – Fb - Ab |
7 | Cb7 | VII7 | Cb – Eb – Gb - Bbb |
Relative & Parallel Minor Of D Flat Minor
Relative Major Key: F Flat Major Scale {Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb, Db, Eb, Db, and Eb}. Relative major and minor scales have the same notes.
Parallel scale: D Flat Major scale {Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, and C}. Its key signature has five flats.
Enharmonic equivalent: C Sharp Minor with notes {C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, and B}. Its key signature has four sharps.
The Modes of the D Flat Minor Scale
The 7 diatonic modes of the D Flat Natural Minor Scale are:
- D Flat – Aeolian Mode.
- E Flat – Locrian Mode.
- F Flat – Ionian Mode.
- G Flat – Dorian Mode.
- A Flat – Phrygian Mode.
- B Double Flat – Lydian Mode.
- C Flat – Mixolydian Mode.
Songs In The Key Of D Flat Minor
Some of the popular songs in the key of D Flat Minor Scale are:
- “It’s About Time” by SWV.
- “Share My World” by Mary J. Blige.
- “Knockin’ da Boots” by H-Town.
- “Nasty” by Janet Jackson.
- “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye.
- “Message in the Bottle” by The Police.
- “Aquemini” by OutKast.
Conclusion
So now you have got all the information you required to start practicing the D Flat Minor scale. Still, if you have any comments or need any additional clarifications, write to us in the section below.