Scale degrees · D♭ major

The 5 of D♭ is A♭

The 5 (five) of D♭ (D flat, Db) is A♭ (A flat): a perfect fifth above the root.

D♭ — the root, 1A♭ — the 5

How to find it

Count letters first, the root included: D, E, F, G, A. A 5th lands on A.

Then the sound: a perfect fifth is 7 semitones above D♭, and the A that is 7 semitones up is A♭.

That is why it is A♭ and not G♯: G♯ is the same key on the piano, but from D♭ it would be a 4th, not a 5th.

Where you meet it

The 5 is the most stable note after the root; a power chord is just the two of them.

In D♭5:

D♭ · A♭

The 5 in every key

KeyThe 5
CG
GD
DA
AE
EB
BF♯
F♯C♯
D♭A♭
A♭E♭
E♭B♭
B♭F
FC

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