Notes in the D Double Harmonic scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Tonic |
| ♭2 | E♭ | Supertonic |
| 3 | F♯ | Mediant |
| 4 | G | Subdominant |
| 5 | A | Dominant |
| ♭6 | B♭ | Submediant |
| 7 | C♯ | Leading tone |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: D E♭ F♯ G A B♭ C♯.
D Double Harmonic scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is H – W+H – H – W – H – W+H – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 7.
Chords in the D Double Harmonic scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| I | D | Dmaj7 |
| II | E♭ | E♭maj7 |
| iii | F♯m | F♯m7 |
| iv | Gm | Gm(maj7) |
| V | A | A7 |
| VI+ | B♭+ | B♭7♯5 |
| vii° | C♯° | C♯°7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
How to practise the D Double Harmonic scale
Learn it as a variation of a scale you know and listen for the augmented second, the big step that gives it the sound. Play it over a drone on the root to hear the colour before you write with it.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the D Double Harmonic scale?
The notes of the D Double Harmonic scale are D E♭ F♯ G A B♭ C♯.
What is the formula for the D Double Harmonic scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is H – W+H – H – W – H – W+H – H (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 7.
What chords are in the D Double Harmonic scale?
Built from the scale in triads: D, E♭, F♯m, Gm, A, B♭+, C♯°.
More D scales
D Major, D Natural Minor, D Harmonic Minor, D Melodic Minor, D Dorian, D Phrygian, D Lydian, D Mixolydian, D Locrian, D Major Pentatonic, D Minor Pentatonic, D Blues, D Lydian Dominant, D Altered, D Whole Tone, D Dorian ♭2, D Lydian Augmented, D Mixolydian ♭6, D Locrian ♯2, D Phrygian Dominant, D Hungarian Minor, D Diminished (W–H), D Diminished (H–W), D Bebop Dominant, D Bebop Major
Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.