The D♭ Minor Major 7th chord is a four-note chord made up of D♭, F♭, A♭, and C. It is built from a root, minor third, perfect fifth, and major seventh.
Construction
D♭ Minor Major 7th = Root + Minor 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 7th = D♭ · F♭ · A♭ · C
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| D♭ | Root | 1 |
| F♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| A♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| C | Major 7th | 7 |
D♭ Minor Major 7th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | D♭ – F♭ – A♭ – C |
| 1st Inversion | F♭ – A♭ – C – D♭ |
| 2nd Inversion | A♭ – C – D♭ – F♭ |
| 3rd Inversion | C – D♭ – F♭ – A♭ |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the D♭ Minor Major 7th 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 Major 7th — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the D♭ Minor Major 7th chord on piano?
The D♭ Minor Major 7th chord contains the notes D♭ – F♭ – A♭ – C. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Db Minor Major 7th chord?
DbmMaj7 contains: Db (root), Fb (minor third), Ab (perfect fifth), C (major seventh). Minor triad with major seventh.
How does DbmMaj7 differ from Dbm7?
DbmMaj7 has C (major seventh), Dbm7 has Cb (minor seventh). One semitone — dramatic vs smooth.
How is DbmMaj7 used in music?
Harmonic minor i chord. Film noir, jazz minor ballads. Descending chromatic line.
What songs use Minor Major 7th?
James Bond theme, My Funny Valentine, Stairway to Heaven chromatic descent.
Why does it sound tense?
Minor third and major seventh create close dissonance — dark yet piercing.
How does DbmMaj7 differ from Dbmaj7?
DbmMaj7 has minor third (Fb). Dbmaj7 has major third (F). Both have major seventh.