Construction
D♭ Minor 13th = Root + Minor 3rd + Perfect 5th + Minor 7th + Major 2nd + Perfect 4th + Major 6th = D♭, F♭, A♭, C♭, E♭, G♭, B♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| D♭ | Root | 1 |
| F♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| A♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| C♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
| E♭ | Major 2nd | 9 |
| G♭ | Perfect 4th | 11 |
| B♭ | Major 6th | 13 |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the D♭ Minor 13th is the tonic (i) chord of D♭ Minor, which shares the signature of its relative major, E Major: 4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯).
F♯C♯G♯D♯
Order of sharps
Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.
F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯
Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Chords in the Key of D♭ Minor
These are the triads built on each degree of D♭ Minor:
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | D♭ Minor | Minor |
| 2 | ii° | E♭ Diminished | Diminished |
| 3 | III | F♭ Major | Major |
| 4 | iv | G♭ Minor | Minor |
| 5 | v | A♭ Minor | Minor |
| 6 | VI | B♭♭ Major | Major |
| 7 | VII | C♭ Major | Major |
Scales That Include the D♭ Minor 13th
- B Major (ii)
- G# Minor (iv)
- C# Dorian (i)
- D# Phrygian (vii)
- E Lydian (vi)
- F# Mixolydian (v)
- G# Aeolian (iv)
- A# Locrian (iii)
Same Notes, Other Names
The notes D♭ – F♭ – A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – G♭ – B♭ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell the following:
D♭ Minor 13th : Frequently Asked Questions
What is the D♭ Minor 13th chord on piano?
The D♭ Minor 13th chord contains the notes D♭ – F♭ – A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – G♭ – B♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Db Minor 13th chord?
Practical voicing: Db–Fb–Cb–Eb–Bb. Enharmonic equivalent of C#m13.
How does Dbm13 differ from Db13?
Dbm13 has minor third (Fb). Db13 has major third (F).
How is Dbm13 used in music?
Richest minor chord on Db. Musicians often use C#m13.
How does Dbm13 differ from Dbm11?
Adds the thirteenth (Bb) for a bright top note.
What songs use Minor 13th chords?
Modal jazz, neo-soul, film scoring.
Do I need to play all seven notes?
No: Db–Fb–Cb–Eb–Bb.