The ♭3 of D♭ is F♭
The ♭3 (flat three, written b3) of D♭ (D flat, Db) is F♭ (F flat): a minor third above the root.
How to find it
Count letters first, the root included: D, E, F. A 3rd lands on F.
Then the sound: a minor third is 3 semitones above D♭, and the F that is 3 semitones up is F♭.
That is why it is F♭ and not E: E is the same key on the piano, but from D♭ it would be a 2nd, not a 3rd.
Where you meet it
The ♭3 makes a chord minor: D♭ minor is the root, F♭ and the 5th. Over a dominant chord the same key on the piano is usually written as the ♯9, with another letter.
In D♭ minor:
D♭ · F♭ · A♭
The ♭3 in every key
| Key | The ♭3 |
|---|---|
| C | E♭ |
| G | B♭ |
| D | F |
| A | C |
| E | G |
| B | D |
| F♯ | A |
| D♭ | F♭ |
| A♭ | C♭ |
| E♭ | G♭ |
| B♭ | D♭ |
| F | A♭ |
Every degree of D♭
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