The D♭ Minor 6th chord is a four-note chord made up of D♭, F♭, A♭, and B♭. It is built from a root, minor third, perfect fifth, and major sixth.
Construction
D♭ Minor 6th = Root + Minor 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 6th = D♭ · F♭ · A♭ · B♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| D♭ | Root | 1 |
| F♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| A♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| B♭ | Major 6th | 6 |
D♭ Minor 6th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | D♭ – F♭ – A♭ – B♭ |
| 1st Inversion | F♭ – A♭ – B♭ – D♭ |
| 2nd Inversion | A♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F♭ |
| 3rd Inversion | B♭ – D♭ – F♭ – A♭ |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the D♭ Minor 6th is the tonic (i) chord of Db 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 the D♭ minor scale:
Same Notes, Other Names
The notes D♭ – F♭ – A♭ – B♭ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:
D♭ Minor 6th — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the D♭ Minor 6th chord on piano?
The D♭ Minor 6th chord contains the notes D♭ – F♭ – A♭ – B♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Db Minor 6th chord?
Dbm6 contains: Db, Fb, Ab, Bb. Minor triad with major sixth.
How does Dbm6 differ from Dbm7?
Dbm6 has Bb (major sixth). Dbm7 has Cb (minor seventh). Bittersweet vs smooth.
How is Dbm6 used?
Descending chromatic minor line. Jazz tonic. Enharmonic of Bbm7b5.
Is Dbm6 the same as Bbm7b5?
Same four notes, different root context.
What songs use Minor 6th?
My Funny Valentine, Stairway to Heaven pattern.
How does Dbm6 differ from Db6?
Dbm6 has minor third (Fb). Db6 would have major third (F).