The D♭ Minor 9th chord is a five-note chord made up of D♭, F♭, A♭, C♭, and E♭. It is built from a root, minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, and major ninth.
Construction
D♭ Minor 9th = Root + Minor 3rd + Perfect 5th + Minor 7th + Major 2nd = D♭ · F♭ · A♭ · C♭ · E♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| D♭ | Root | 1 |
| F♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| A♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| C♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
| E♭ | Major 2nd | 9 |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the D♭ Minor 9th 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:
D♭ Minor 9th — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the D♭ Minor 9th chord on piano?
The D♭ Minor 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 Minor 9th chord?
The Db Minor 9th chord (Dbm9) contains five notes: Db (root), Fb (minor third, enharmonically E), Ab (perfect fifth), Cb (minor seventh, enharmonically B), and Eb (major ninth). It is Dbm7 with an added ninth.
How does Dbm9 differ from Db9?
Dbm9 has a minor third (Fb). Db9 has a major third (F). Dbm9 is dark and smooth; Db9 is bright and dominant.
How is Dbm9 used in music?
Dbm9 is the ii chord in Cb/B Major. Its enharmonic equivalent C#m9 is more commonly written. It appears in jazz and neo-soul.
What songs use Minor 9th chords?
Minor 9th chords define neo-soul and lo-fi: D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Robert Glasper use m9 extensively.
How does Dbm9 differ from Dbm7?
Dbm9 adds the ninth (Eb) to Dbm7 for richer colour.
Do I need to play all five notes?
No — drop the fifth: Db–Fb–Cb–Eb is the practical voicing.