The D♭ Major 9th chord is a five-note chord made up of D♭, F, A♭, C, and E♭. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh, and major ninth.
Construction
D♭ Major 9th = Root + Major 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 7th + Major 2nd = D♭ · F · A♭ · C · E♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| D♭ | Root | 1 |
| F | Major 3rd | 3 |
| A♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| C | Major 7th | 7 |
| E♭ | Major 2nd | 9 |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the D♭ Major 9th 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 9th — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the D♭ Major 9th chord on piano?
The D♭ Major 9th chord contains the notes D♭ – F – A♭ – C – E♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Db Major 9th chord?
The Db Major 9th chord (Dbmaj9) contains five notes: Db (root), F (major third), Ab (perfect fifth), C (major seventh), and Eb (major ninth). It is Dbmaj7 with an added ninth.
How does Dbmaj9 differ from Db9?
Dbmaj9 has a major seventh (C). Db9 has a minor seventh (Cb). Dbmaj9 is dreamy and resolved; Db9 is dominant and tense.
How is Dbmaj9 used in music?
Dbmaj9 is a lush tonic chord in Db Major. Db is a favourite key for R&B vocalists, making Dbmaj9 common in soul, neo-soul, and jazz ballads.
What songs use Major 9th chords?
Major 9th chords are signature sounds of neo-soul and jazz: D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Robert Glasper build songs on maj9 foundations.
How does Dbmaj9 differ from Dbadd9?
Dbmaj9 includes the major seventh (C). Dbadd9 has no seventh. Dbmaj9 is warmer and more complex.
Do I need to play all five notes?
No — drop the fifth: Db–F–C–Eb is a clean four-note voicing.