Db6 Db major sixth chord
- Notes
- Db F Ab Bb
- Formula
- 1 3 5 6
- Semitones
- 0 4 7 9 above the root
- Also written
- C#6 (C# E# G# A#)
- Other symbols
- DbM6, Dbmaj6
Db to F is a major third (4 semitones), F to Ab is a minor third (3 semitones), Ab to Bb is a major second (2 semitones). A major triad plus the major sixth, Bb, nine semitones above Db. With Bb in the bass the same four keys read as Bbm7: which name fits depends on the bass note.
Db6 on the piano
Root position from Db4: Db4, F4, Ab4, Bb4. Middle C is C4.
Db6 on the guitar
Standard tuning (E A D G B E). Strings run low E on the left to high e on the right, frets downwards; × is a muted string, ○ an open string, and each dot shows the note it sounds, with the root in blue-green. Every shape below has Db as its lowest note.
x 4 6 6 6 6 (low E to high e)
Sounds Db3 Ab3 Db4 F4 Bb4
9 x 8 10 9 x (low E to high e)
Sounds Db3 Bb3 F4 Ab4
The E-shape and A-shape grips are movable: an E-shape chord's root is the note under your first finger on the low E string, an A-shape chord's root is the note on the A string. Slide the same grip up or down to play major sixth chords on other roots.
Inversions of Db6
An inversion puts a note other than the root in the bass. The name is what semicord's chord finder calls those notes played bottom to top; a slash name like C/E means a C chord with E in the bass.
| Position | Notes, bass first | Named | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | Db F Ab Bb | Db6 | |
| 1st inversion | F Ab Bb Db | Bbm7/F (also read as Db6/F) | |
| 2nd inversion | Ab Bb Db F | Bbm7/Ab (also read as Db6/Ab) | |
| 3rd inversion | Bb Db F Ab | Bbm7 (also read as Db6/Bb) |
Where Db6 fits
Db6 is I6 in Db major, IV6 in Ab major. As a final tonic chord it is the swing-era and early rock and roll alternative to Dbmaj7: the sixth, Bb, adds colour without the half-step rub between Db and a major seventh.