Wikipedia

D-flat major

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D flat major is a major scale based on D flat, consisting of the pitches D flat, E flat, F, G flat, A flat, B flat, C, and D flat. The notes picked out in bold form the arpeggio of D flat major. Its key signature consists of five flats.

D♭ major
Relative keyB♭ minor
Parallel keyC♯ minor
Component pitches
D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C

Ascending and descending D-flat Major Scale

The flatted pitches correspond to the black keys of the piano. Its relative minor is B flat minor, and its parallel minor is C sharp minor, since D flat minor, which would contain 8 flats, is not used for practical composing and arranging. Thus, in his Prelude No. 15 in D flat major, Frédéric Chopin switches to C sharp minor for the middle section.

D flat major is enharmonic to C sharp major. In music for the harp, D flat major would be preferrrable, not only for the obvious reason that harp strings are more resonant in the flat position, but also because modulation to the dominant key is easier (by putting the G pedal in the natural position, whereas there is no double-sharp position in which to put the F pedal for G sharp major).

Hector Berlioz called this key "majestic" in his 1856 Grand Traité d'Instrumentation et d'Orchestration modernes, while having a much different opinion of its enharmonic counterpart.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 is written in B flat minor, but the famous opening theme is in D flat major.

Well known songs and pieces in this key

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