fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON TENOR HORN

D♭ Aeolian

Natural minor labelled as a mode — the other 'default' tonality.

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♭ Aeolian
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 2 3 4 5 title D♭ Aeolian
Verovio
Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds a major 6th 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♭123partial 3
Harmonic seriesTube of the tonic fingering — D♭ sounds partial 3
partial 1 — F♯2 (+0¢)1partial 2 — F♯3 (+0¢)2partial 3 — C♯4 (+2¢)3partial 4 — F♯4 (+0¢)4partial 5 — A♯4 (-14¢)5partial 6 — C♯5 (+2¢)6partial 7 — E5 (-31¢)7-31¢partial 8 — F♯5 (+0¢)8
Related scales
Diatonic chord harmonisation
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
Compare with
Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the D♭ Aeolian scale?

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

What's the Aeolian scale formula?

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

What chords work over D♭ Aeolian?

Natural minor's diatonic chords: i minor, ii°, ♭III major, iv minor, v minor, ♭VI major, ♭VII major. The minor-v sounds modal; for stronger pull use V (from harmonic minor).

How do I finger D♭ Aeolian on Tenor Horn?

On brass, scales train embouchure + valve / slide coordination across the partials. Slow practice with a tuner reveals intonation tendencies (e.g., the 5th partial sharp on trumpet).

When would I use the Aeolian scale?

Natural minor labelled as a mode — the other 'default' tonality.