Scale degrees · D♭ major
The 13 of D♭ is B♭
The 13 (thirteen) of D♭ (D flat, Db) is B♭ (B flat): a major thirteenth above the root.
D♭ — the root, 1B♭ — the 13
How to find it
A 13th is a 6th an octave up, so it takes the 6th's letter: D, E, F, G, A, B.
Then the sound: a major thirteenth is 21 semitones above D♭, and the B that is 21 semitones up is B♭.
That is why it is B♭ and not A♯: A♯ is the same key on the piano, but from D♭ it would be a 12th, not a 13th.
Where you meet it
The 13 is the 6 an octave up: the top of a thirteenth chord, and of the classic dominant voicing with the 3 and the ♭7.
In D♭13:
D♭ · F · A♭ · C♭ · E♭ · B♭
The 13 in every key
| Key | The 13 |
|---|---|
| C | A |
| G | E |
| D | B |
| A | F♯ |
| E | C♯ |
| B | G♯ |
| F♯ | D♯ |
| D♭ | B♭ |
| A♭ | F |
| E♭ | C |
| B♭ | G |
| F | D |
Every degree of D♭
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