Scale degrees · D♭ major

The 6 of D♭ is B♭

The 6 (six) of D♭ (D flat, Db) is B♭ (B flat): a major sixth above the root.

D♭ — the root, 1B♭ — the 6

How to find it

Count letters first, the root included: D, E, F, G, A, B. A 6th lands on B.

Then the sound: a major sixth is 9 semitones above D♭, and the B that is 9 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 5th, not a 6th.

Where you meet it

The 6 is the added note of a sixth chord. An octave up, on a dominant, it is the 13.

In D♭6:

D♭ · F · A♭ · B♭

The 6 in every key

KeyThe 6
CA
GE
DB
AF♯
EC♯
BG♯
F♯D♯
D♭B♭
A♭F
E♭C
B♭G
FD

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