The D♭ Major 7th chord is a four-note chord made up of D♭, F, A♭, and C. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, and major seventh.
Construction
D♭ Major 7th = Root + Major 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 7th = D♭ · F · A♭ · C
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| D♭ | Root | 1 |
| F | Major 3rd | 3 |
| A♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| C | Major 7th | 7 |
D♭ Major 7th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | D♭ – F – A♭ – C |
| 1st Inversion | F – A♭ – C – D♭ |
| 2nd Inversion | A♭ – C – D♭ – F |
| 3rd Inversion | D♭ – F – A♭ – C |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the D♭ Major 7th is the tonic (I) chord of Db Major, whose key signature has 5 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭).
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 D♭ Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the D♭ major scale:
D♭ Major 7th — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the D♭ Major 7th chord on piano?
The D♭ Major 7th chord contains the notes D♭ – F – A♭ – C. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Db Major 7th chord?
The Db Major 7th chord (Dbmaj7) contains four notes: Db (root), F (major third), Ab (perfect fifth), and C (major seventh). The major seventh interval gives this chord its lush, dreamy, sophisticated quality.
How does Db Major 7th differ from Db Dominant 7th?
Both contain Db, F, and Ab. The difference is the seventh: Dbmaj7 has C (major seventh) while Db7 has Cb (minor seventh). Dbmaj7 sounds warm and resolved; Db7 sounds tense and wants to resolve to Gb Major.
How is Db Major 7th used in music?
Dbmaj7 is the I chord in jazz harmony in Db Major. It appears frequently in R&B, neo-soul, and jazz ballads — Db Major is a popular key for vocalists because of its warm, rich quality on piano. Many love songs and ballads sit in this key.
What genres commonly use Major 7th chords?
Major 7th chords are foundational in jazz, bossa nova, neo-soul, R&B, city pop, and lo-fi hip-hop. They also appear in classical impressionism and sophisticated pop. The smooth, dreamy quality of the major 7th is a signature sound of relaxed, harmonically rich music.
What songs use Major 7th chords?
Major 7th chords appear in The Girl from Ipanema (Jobim), Don't Know Why (Norah Jones), and countless jazz standards. Stevie Wonder's catalogue is filled with major 7th voicings. The chord's warm, sophisticated sound makes it a favourite in singer-songwriter and neo-soul music.
Can I substitute Db Major 7th for Db Major?
Yes — in most contexts, Dbmaj7 can replace a plain Db Major chord for added colour and warmth. The exception is when the melody note is Db, because Db and C (the major seventh) are a semitone apart and can clash.