D♭ Lydian ♭3 Scale

123456789101112131415F♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭F♭GCD♭E♭F♭GA♭B♭CD♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭F♭GA♭B♭E♭F♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭F♭B♭CD♭E♭F♭GA♭B♭CF♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭F♭G

D♭ Lydian ♭3 contains 7 notes: D♭, E♭, F♭, G, A♭, B♭, C. It has 5 flats: D♭, E♭, F♭, A♭, B♭. The step pattern is W–H–W+H–H–W–W–H.

A paradoxical mode that's minor (b3) but somehow feels uplifting. The raised 4th, natural 6th, and natural 7th inject so much brightness into the minor framework that it sounds like a more exotic, sophisticated cousin of Dorian.

The formula is 1, 2, b3, #4, 5, 6, 7. The b3 establishes minor quality while the #4, natural 6, and natural 7 push strongly toward brightness. It works over minor-major 7th chords with a #11 extension and can add real sophistication to modal jazz compositions.

An excellent alternative to standard Dorian when you want more exotic flavor over minor chords. Emphasize the #4 and natural 7 — they're what distinguish this from regular Dorian. Use harmonic major shapes rooted on the 4th degree.

Step pattern W – H – W+H – H – W – W – H
R2♭3♯45678D♭E♭F♭GA♭B♭CD♭TS3STTS
F♭·♭3G·♯4D♭·RE♭·2A♭·5B♭·6C·78
𝄞D♭ (R)E♭ (2)F♭ (♭3)G (♯4)A♭ (5)B♭ (6)C (7)D♭ (8)
II
III+
iv°
vi°
vii
JazzFusionContemporary classical

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