D♭ Minor 9th
Also Known As
Hear the D♭ Minor 9th chord played for you.
D♭m9
D♭ – E – A♭ – B – E♭
Formula:R-m3-P5-m7-M9
Intervals:P1-m3-P5-m7-M9
Scale Degrees:1-b3-5-b7-9
Introduction
The D♭ Minor 9th chord is a five-note chord made up of D♭, E, A♭, B, and E♭. It is built from a root, minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, and major ninth.
The Db Minor 9th piano chord (Dbm9) consists of the notes Db, E, Ab, B, Eb. It is a minor 7th chord with an added major 9th, giving it a dark yet lush character widely used in jazz, soul, and R&B progressions. Formula: R-m3-P5-m7-M9 | Scale degrees: 1-b3-5-b7-9.
Notes
Key Signature
The key of Db Minor 9th (enharmonically equivalent to C# Minor 9th) has 4 sharps.
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 diatonic triads built on each degree of the D♭ minor scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
i — D♭ Minor (minor)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-m3-P5-m7-M9
Intervals: P1-m3-P5-m7-M9
The D♭ Minor 9th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-m3-P5-m7-M9 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-m3-P5-m7-M9 show the distance between each note in the chord.
D♭ Minor 9th — Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Practice Tips
- Play Dbm7 then add Eb — hear the ninth open up the chord.
- Dbm9 and C#m9 are enharmonic — practice both spellings.
- Drop the fifth for the practical four-note voicing.
- Practice Dbm9 in the ii–V–I: Dbm9 → Gb13 → Cbmaj9.
- Minor 9th chords are the building blocks of neo-soul harmony.
- Rootless: Fb–Ab–Cb–Eb for jazz comping.
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.