D Flat Music Note : The Complete Guide to the Note and Key

As one of the twelve notes in Western music, the D flat music note sits between C and D. Learn how to recognise D flat in different clefs, the different scales and modes that start on D flat and listen to famous songs that feature D flat prominently in their melodies.

D flat Note on The Staff

Here is probably the most common D flat you’ll see. It sits on the space below the treble clef and is the D flat above middle C.

Below are different D flats that you will see on the treble and bass clef. Remember that we can play D flat notes an octave higher or lower from the D flat above middle C. This means that technically there are infinite D flat notes to choose from!

Below are notes that are enharmonically equivalent to D flat. C sharp means one half-step above C, which is a D flat. B double sharp means two half steps above B, which is also D flat.

D flat Note on the Piano and Keyboard

D flat sits between the C and D white keys on the keyboard. The black keys move in groups of two then three, so the D flat note is the first black key in the groups of 2.

You might also remember it is the black key above C natural.

D flat Note Accidentals

We can add accidental signs to a D flat note and these are shown below. Remember that all the notes in the diagram are not enharmonically equivalent to D flat.

D flat Music Notes in Different Clefs

Here are typical D flat notes that you will see in different clefs. Some are lower or higher and for more on how to name the different D flat notes, check out our post on octaves.

Treble Clef – Db

The D flat above middle C (Db4) sits on the space below the bottom line treble clef.

Bass Clef – Db

The D flat below middle C (Db3) sits on the third line of the bass clef.

Alto Clef – Db

The D flat above middle C (Db4) sits on the third space of the alto clef.

Tenor Clef – Db

The D flat above middle C (Db4) sits on the fourth space of the tenor clef.

Mezzo-soprano Clef – Db

The D flat above middle C (Db4) sits on the second space of the mezzo-soprano clef.

Soprano Clef – Db

The D flat above middle C (Db4) sits on the first space of the soprano clef.

Baritone Clef – Db

The D flat below middle C (Db3) sits on the second line of the baritone clef.

Popular Scales starting on D flat

D Flat Major

The major scale formula is W-W-H-W-W-W-H, where W= whole step and H = half step. Below is the D flat major scale.

D Flat Natural Minor

The natural minor formula is W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Below is the D flat natural minor scale.

D Flat Harmonic Minor

The harmonic minor formula is W – H – W – W – H – W1/2 – H. Note that this scale has a three semitone step or a whole-step-and-a-half.

D Flat Melodic Minor

When ascending the melodic minor scale follows this pattern: W-H-W-W-W-W-H.

When descending it follows the natural minor pattern.

Modes Starting on D flat

Below are the modes that start on D flat.

Frequency of D flat Music Note

Using the equal temperament tuning system, the A above middle C is 440 Hz. This means that the D flat above middle C would be approximately 277 Hz.

What’s Next…?

• Learn about Chords in the Key of D flat major
• Learn about more music notes with our music theory basics guides.