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The D-flat (Db) major scale on piccolo is the scale of the key of D-flat or five flats. This implies that its tonic note is D-flat. D-flat major is relative to the key of B-flat minor, parallel to the key of D-flat minor, dominant to the key of A-flat major, subdominant to the key of G-flat major, and enharmonic to C sharp major. Below is a two octaves scale of D-flat major on piccolo and how it sounds;
How to play the D-flat major scale on the piccolo, its notes, and finger placement chat
You can only play a D-flat major scale of two octaves on the piccolo, being between the ranges of Db4 to Db6. You need to use a finger placement chart or a particular pattern to play the D-flat major scale on the piccolo. Below is a guide and finger chart of how to play the D-flat major scale on the piccolo;
First octave D-flat major scale notes (Db4 – Db5) finger placement chart for piccolo
To play the first octave (Db4 – Db5) D-flat major scale on the piccolo, you have to play all the notes naturally except for the B note, E note, A note, D note, and G note which you will have to flatten. Your finger placement needs to be accurate in other to produce a perfect scale.
Second octave D-flat major scale notes (Db5 – Db6) finger placement chart for piccolo
To play the second octave (Db5 – Db6) D-flat major scale on the piccolo, you have to play all the notes naturally except for the B note, E note, A note, D note, and G note which you will have to flatten. Your finger placement needs to be accurate in other to produce a perfect scale. Learning the scale might be hard for beginners. You will also have to tighten your lips to produce higher-pitched notes.
Concert D-flat major scale
While playing the D-flat major scale, every note is played in its natural form except for the B note, E note, A note, D note and G note. This means that all notes except the B note, E note, A note, D note, and G note are played naturally while playing this scale on the concert piccolo, Indian or Bansuri piccolo, Native American piccolo, pan piccolo, Arabian piccolo, and any other piccolo.
If you play an alto piccolo or any other transposable piccolo, you can play the D-flat major scale without any transposition. But while running the D-flat major scale with another instrument that is not transposable, you will then have to transpose to the right key in other to sound the same with them in pitch.
D-flat major scale piccolo notes and arpeggio
The D-flat major scale can be played up to two octaves on a C piccolo, the standard concert piccolo. The first note of this scale on the C piccolo is the D-flat note on the first ledger space below the treble clef which in the range is the Db4.
The notes or alphabets that you will play to get this scale correctly include; Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db. The two-octave arpeggio of this scale has its notes as Db, F, Ab, Db, F, Ab, Db, Ab, F, Db, Ab, F, Db.
Notable piccolo compositions in D-flat major
- Caprice No. 23 in D-flat major from 26 Little Caprices, Op. 37 by J. Andersen
- Chaconne Op. 8 by C. Chaminade
- Clair de lune from Suite bergamasque, L. 75 by C. Debussy
- Di Provenza il mar, il suol from La traviata by G. Verdi
- Die Forelle D.550 by F. Schubert
- Duet No. 64 in D-flat major from Méthode de flûte, Op. 100 by J.-L. Tulou
- La fleur que tu m’avais jetée from Carmen by G. Bizet
- Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet, TH 42 by P.I. Tchaikovsky
- Minute Waltz from Trois valses, Op. 64, by F. Chopin
- Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix from Samson et Dalila, Op. 47 by C. Saint-Saëns
- Nocturne from Nocturne et Allegro Scherzando by P. Gaubert
- Nocturne in D-flat major Op. 27, No. 2 by F. Chopin
