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Guitar chords · Dominant 7th

D♭7 chord on guitar (Db7)

D♭7 (D♭ ) has four notes: D♭, F, A♭ and C♭ (played as B), the , 3, 5 and ♭7.

Shapes

How to play D♭7

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

D♭7 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 4 or the E shape at fret 9. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • A shape · fret 4

    4fr×R5♭735D♭A♭C♭FA♭
  • E shape · fret 9

    9frR5♭735RD♭A♭C♭FA♭D♭
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes D♭7 dominant 7th

A chord is a major chord with a minor 7th added. Its 3rd and 7th are a apart, and that tension pulls it to the chord a 5th below: the V7–I move that ends so many phrases. It is also the sound of the blues.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The 3rd and the ♭7th make D♭7 a chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. D♭Rroot
  2. F3essential
  3. A♭5optional
  4. C♭♭7essential
EADGBE0135791215D♭D♭D♭D♭D♭D♭D♭FA♭C♭FC♭FA♭C♭FA♭C♭FA♭C♭FA♭C♭FA♭C♭FA♭C♭F
  • D♭, the root
  • Other chord tones

D♭7 usually resolves to G♭ or G♭m, the chord a 5th below: the V7–I move.

D♭7 and C♯7 are the same chord with two names: same , same sound. Which one you see depends on the key the song is written in.

Keys

Keys with D♭7

D♭7 belongs to three keys: G♭ major (V7), F♯ minor (V7, spelled C♯7, ) and E♭ minor (VII7).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Progressions

Progressions with D♭7

Common progressions that use D♭7, each in a key that spells it D♭7. The outlined chord is D♭7.

  • Jazz ii–V–I in G♭ major

    ii7 – V7 – Imaj7

    1. A♭m7
    2. D♭7
    3. G♭maj7

    Each chord falls a fifth to the next — a walk anticlockwise around the circle.

    Heard in Autumn Leaves, Fly Me to the Moon

  • 12-bar blues in D♭ major

    I7 – I7 – I7 – I7 – IV7 – IV7 – I7 – I7 – V7 – IV7 – I7 – V7

    1. D♭7
    2. D♭7
    3. D♭7
    4. D♭7
    5. G♭7
    6. G♭7
    7. D♭7
    8. D♭7
    9. A♭7
    10. G♭7
    11. D♭7
    12. A♭7

    Dominant 7th chords on I, IV and V across twelve bars. The foundation of blues and early rock 'n' roll.

    Heard in Johnny B. Goode, Pride and Joy, Hound Dog

Slash chords

D♭7 over another bass note

A keeps D♭7 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • D♭7/F

    D♭7 with its 3rd, F, in the bass: the first inversion.

  • D♭7/A♭

    D♭7 with its 5th, A♭, in the bass: the second inversion.

  • D♭7/C♭

    D♭7 with its ♭7th, C♭, in the bass: the third inversion.

Questions

D♭7, in short

What notes are in the D♭7 chord?
D♭7 (D♭ ) has four notes: D♭, F, A♭ and C♭ (played as B), the , 3, 5 and ♭7.
How do you play D♭7 on guitar?
D♭7 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 4 or the E shape at fret 9.
What key is D♭7 in?
D♭7 belongs to three keys: G♭ major (V7), F♯ minor (V7, spelled C♯7, ) and E♭ minor (VII7).
Is D♭7 the same as C♯7?
Yes: same frets, same sound, different name. D♭7 is the spelling in G♭ major and E♭ minor; C♯7 in F♯ major, F♯ minor and D♯ minor.
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