Db Db major chord
- Notes
- Db F Ab
- Formula
- 1 3 5
- Semitones
- 0 4 7 above the root
- Also written
- C# (C# E# G#)
- Other symbols
- DbM, Dbmaj
Db to F is a major third (4 semitones), F to Ab is a minor third (3 semitones). The major triad: a major third with a minor third on top, the tonic chord of the key of Db major.
Db on the piano
Root position from Db4: Db4, F4, Ab4. Middle C is C4.
Db 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 4 (low E to high e)
Sounds Db3 Ab3 Db4 F4 Ab4
9 11 11 10 9 9 (low E to high e)
Sounds Db3 Ab3 Db4 F4 Ab4 Db5
The barre shapes 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 chords on other roots.
Inversions of Db
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 | Db | |
| 1st inversion | F Ab Db | Db/F | |
| 2nd inversion | Ab Db F | Db/Ab |
Where Db fits
Db is I in Db major, IV in Ab major, V in Gb major, V in F# minor (where it is spelled C#). As V in a minor key it comes from the harmonic minor scale, whose raised seventh degree is this chord's third, F.