D♭ Major 7th
Also Known As
Hear the D♭ Major 7th chord played for you.
D♭maj7
D♭ – F – A♭ – C
Formula:R-M3-P5-M7
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-M7
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-7
Introduction
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.
The Db Major 7th piano chord (Dbmaj7) consists of the notes Db, F, Ab, C. It is a major triad with an added major 7th, giving it a dreamy, sophisticated, and jazzy sound. Formula: R-M3-P5-M7 | Scale degrees: 1-3-5-7.
Notes
D♭ Major 7th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | Db4 – F4 – Ab4 – C5 |
| 1st Inversion | F4 – Ab4 – C5 – Db5 |
| 2nd Inversion | Ab4 – C5 – Db5 – F5 |
| 3rd Inversion | Db4 – F4 – Ab4 – C4 |
Key Signature
The key of Db Major 7th 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
Intervals: P1-M3-P5-M7
The D♭ Major 7th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-M3-P5-M7 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-M3-P5-M7 show the distance between each note in the chord.
D♭ Major 7th — Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Practice Tips
- Play Db Major then add C — hear the instant shift from simple to sophisticated. The major seventh adds warmth without tension.
- Compare Dbmaj7 (Db–F–Ab–C) with Db7 (Db–F–Ab–Cb) — one semitone difference, completely different character. Dbmaj7 is lush; Db7 is driving.
- Practice Dbmaj7 as the I chord in a jazz ii–V–I: Ebm7 → Ab7 → Dbmaj7. This progression defines jazz harmony.
- Db Major is a beautiful key for ballads — try Dbmaj7 → Gbmaj7 → Fm7 → Bbm7 for a rich, emotional progression.
- Try spread voicings: Db–Ab–C–F for a more open, modern sound compared to close-position root voicing.
- Be careful when the melody sits on Db — the semitone between C (major seventh) and Db (root) can clash. Use a plain Db triad in those moments.
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.