Db Chromatic Scale on Piano

The Db Chromatic scale sounds all twelve tones. It runs Db – D – Eb – E – F – Gb – G – Ab – A – Bb – B – C.

Interval Circle

HHHHHHHHHHHHC7Db1Db2Eb2Eb3F3Gb4Gb5Ab5Ab6Bb6Bb7

All twelve semitones, root at the top. Filled dots are the notes of the scale, the outer numbers are their degrees, and W / H mark the whole and half steps between them.

About This Scale

Every semitone inside the octave, in order. It has no tonal centre of its own, so it functions as a colouring device and as the standard exercise for training the thumb-under motion across black and white keys alike.

Fingering

Right Hand (ascending)

3-1-3-1-2-3-1-3-1-3-1-2-3

Left Hand (ascending)

3-1-3-2-1-3-1-3-1-3-2-1-3

Why this fingering

5 black keys (Db, Eb, Gb, Ab, Bb) sit in this scale, and the thumb has to avoid them. In the right hand the thumb crosses under onto D, E, G, A and B; let the elbow drift slightly outward as it passes rather than twisting the wrist.

The blue dots on the piano below show which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.

Notes in Db Chromatic

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
DbDb4Root (1)33
DD4Minor 2nd (b2)11
EbEb4Major 2nd (2)33
EE4Minor 3rd (b3)12
FF4Major 3rd (3)21
GbGb4Perfect 4th (4)33
GG4Tritone (b5)11
AbAb4Perfect 5th (5)33
AA4Minor 6th (b6)11
BbBb4Major 6th (6)33
BB4Minor 7th (b7)12
CC5Major 7th (7)21
DbDb5Octave (8)33

Other Chromatic Scales

C Chromatic
C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A# – B
D Chromatic
D – D# – E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A# – B – C – C#
Eb Chromatic
Eb – E – F – Gb – G – Ab – A – Bb – B – C – Db – D
E Chromatic
E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A# – B – C – C# – D – D#
F Chromatic
F – Gb – G – Ab – A – Bb – B – C – Db – D – Eb – E
F# Chromatic
F# – G – G# – A – A# – B – C – C# – D – D# – E – F
G Chromatic
G – G# – A – A# – B – C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F#
Ab Chromatic
Ab – A – Bb – B – C – Db – D – Eb – E – F – Gb – G
A Chromatic
A – A# – B – C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F# – G – G#
Bb Chromatic
Bb – B – C – Db – D – Eb – E – F – Gb – G – Ab – A
B Chromatic
B – C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A#

Other Db Scales

Db Major
Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C
Db Major Pentatonic
Db – Eb – F – Ab – Bb
Db Mixolydian
Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb