Db Ionian

What is Db Ionian?

Db Ionian is the seven notes Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C — the notes of Db major started from its 1st degree, Db. Same seven notes as the parent, but with Db as home, so the intervals and the sound are different.

Db Ionian vs Db major

They are the same seven notes in the same order. “Ionian” is the mode name for the major scale — it says which chord you treat as home, not that any note changed.

Chords in Db Ionian

Stack the mode in thirds and each degree becomes a chord. The home chord is Db; the rest are the chords of Db major, since the notes are the same — what changes is which one the music rests on. Vamp between Db and Gb and the mode is unmistakable.

All the chords in Db major, with shapes and numerals →

Db Ionian on the guitar neck

Because Db Ionian is Db major from its 1st note, its natural fingering is position 1 of the seven three-notes-per-string shapes of Db major — the shape whose lowest note is Db. Learn that shape with Db as home — start and end on it, over a drone on Db or the vamp above — and you have the mode under your fingers. The other six positions are the fingerings for the other six modes of the same key.

• The seven positions of Db major — the Ionian shape is position 1 →
• See every Db Ionian note across the whole neck →

How to practice Db Ionian on guitar

1. Loop position 1 of Db major at 60 BPM, starting and ending on Db so your ear hears Db as home rather than Db.
2. Hold a Db chord (or record one) and play the shape over it. Listen for the chord tones landing on the beat.
3. Hear it harmonized in 3rds on the Fretboard: press Play and every note sounds with its partner while the neck lights up.