The key of D flat major makes use of the same chords and scale notes as the key of C sharp major, except that the notes and chords have different names. Db and C# are enharmonic equivalents.
What are the chords in the key of Db major?
First of all let’s take a look at the D flat major scale. The notes in this scale are Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db. Like every other major key the chords in this key follows the pattern major minor minor major major minor diminished.
The triads in the key of D flat major are Dbmaj, Ebmin, Fmin, Gbmaj, Abmaj, Bbmin and Cdim. The four note chords with sevenths are Dbmaj7, Ebmin7 Fmin7, Gbmaj7, Ab7, Bbmin7 and Cm7b5.
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Let’s list these chords by roman numerals. Each note in the scale is represented by a different roman numeral. Notice that some are capitalized while others are not.
- I – Db major, Db major seventh (bDmaj, Dbmaj7)
- ii – Eb minor, Eb minor seventh (Ebm, Ebm7)
- iii – F minor, F minor seventh (Fm, Fm7)
- IV – Gb major, Gb major seventh (Gb, Gbmaj 7)
- V – Ab major, Ab dominant seventh (Ab, Ab7)
- vi – Bb minor, Bb minor seventh (Bbm, Bbm7)
- vii° – C diminished, C minor seventh flat five (C°, Cm7b5)
Watch this lesson:
Piano Chords In The Key Of D Flat Major
The following key chord chart shows the triads and four note extended chords in the key of Db major.
So what notes do these chords consist of?
- Chord I, Db major (Db – F – Ab). Db major seventh (Db – F – Ab – C).
- Chord ii, Eb minor (Eb – Gb – Bb). Eb minor seventh (Eb – Gb – Bb – Db).
- Chord iii, F minor (F – Ab – C). F minor seventh (F – Ab – C – Eb).
- Chord IV, Gb major (Gb – Bb – Db). Gb major seventh (Gb – Bb – Db – F).
- Chord V, Ab major (Ab – C – Eb). Ab dominant seventh (Ab – C – Eb – Gb).
- Chord vi, Bb minor (Bb – Db – F). Bb minor seventh (Bb – Db – F – Ab).
- Chord vii°, C diminished (C – Eb – Gb). C minor seventh flat five (C – Eb – Gb – Bb).
Common chord progressions in the key of Db major are:
- I – IV – V (Db – Gb – Ab)
- I – vi – IV – V (Db – Bbm – Gb – Ab)
- ii – V – I (Ebm7 – Ab7 – Dbmaj7)
The following is a diagram of the Db major key signature as well as the Db major scale on the treble and bass clefs. The Db major scale has 5 flats, Ab, Bb, Db, Eb, and Gb.
Here is a diagram showing the Db major scale on piano/keyboard.
Chords In The Keys Of A, B, C, D, E, F, G Flat, Sharp, Major & Minor
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