D♭ Major 11th
Also Known As
Hear the D♭ Major 11th chord played for you.
D♭maj11
D♭ – F – A♭ – C – E♭ – G♭
Formula:R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-7-9-11
Introduction
The D♭ Major 11th chord is a six-note chord made up of D♭, F, A♭, C, E♭, and G♭. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh.
The Db Major 11th piano chord (Dbmaj11) consists of the notes Db, F, Ab, C, Eb, Gb. It is a major 9th chord with an added perfect 11th, giving it a bright, expansive character with a dreamy quality found in jazz and contemporary classical music. Formula: R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11 | Scale degrees: 1-3-5-7-9-11.
Notes
Key Signature
The key of Db Major 11th has 5 flats.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of Db Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the Db major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — D♭ Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
Intervals: P1-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
The D♭ Major 11th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11 show the distance between each note in the chord.
D♭ Major 11th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the Db Major 11th chord?
Practical voicing drops the third: Db–Ab–C–Eb–Gb. The third (F) and eleventh (Gb) clash.
How does Dbmaj11 differ from Db11?
Dbmaj11 has major seventh (C). Db11 has minor seventh (Cb). Different functions entirely.
How is Dbmaj11 used in music?
Dbmaj11 appears in contemporary jazz, film scoring, and ambient music as an expansive tonic.
How does Dbmaj11 differ from Dbmaj9?
Adds the eleventh (Gb) for an open, expansive quality.
What songs use Major 11th chords?
Major 11th chords appear in film scores, contemporary jazz, and ambient music.
Do I need to play all six notes?
No — drop the third. Db–C–Eb–Gb is clean.
Practice Tips
- Drop the third: Db–C–Eb–Gb avoids the F–Gb clash.
- Dbmaj11 has a cinematic, expansive quality.
- Compare with Db11 — major vs minor seventh.
- Sustain with pedal for atmospheric effect.
- Spread across two hands for practical voicing.
- Works in ambient and film scoring contexts.
Related Tools
Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.