fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON DOUBLE BASS

D♭ Whole Tone

Six whole-tone steps — symmetric. Debussy's signature colour; floats without resolving.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
Choose a root
Meter:Octave per barCrotchets in 4/4Quavers in 4/4Triplets in 4/4
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 3 title D♭ Whole Tone
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 2 3 4 5 title D♭ Whole Tone
Verovio
Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds an octave below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

Audio source: synthesised in-browser via Tone.js (MIT)

FingeringFollows the scale as it plays — written pitch, matches the staff
D♭A stringGDAEoctave nodeoctave nodeoctave nodeoctave nodeGABD♭E♭FGABD♭E♭E♭FGABD♭E♭FGAABD♭E♭FGABD♭E♭FFGABD♭E♭FGAB
Related scales
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the D♭ Whole Tone scale?

The D♭ Whole Tone scale uses the notes D♭, E♭, F, G, A, B (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Whole Tone scale formula?

The Whole Tone scale follows the interval pattern W W W W W W, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on D♭ to get the D♭ Whole Tone scale.

What chords work over D♭ Whole Tone?

Try chord pairings derived from the scale's third, fifth, and seventh degrees as roots — they share the most diatonic notes.

How do I finger D♭ Whole Tone on Double Bass?

On bowed strings, scales train both fingering and bow technique. First-position fingerings cover most scales up to one octave; second-, third-, and fourth-position shifts unlock the higher register. The 1-2-3-4 finger pattern adapts to the half-step + whole-step positions per scale.

When would I use the Whole Tone scale?

Six whole-tone steps — symmetric. Debussy's signature colour; floats without resolving.