Note identifier · Reference entry
What chord is D–F–G–B?
Ranked readings
Every chord these notes can spell, most complete first. The bass note anchors the root-position reading; each candidate maps every note to its scale degree.
All tones of G7 are present; the D note is lowest (2nd inversion).
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | sounding |
| 3 | B | sounding |
| 5 | D | sounding |
| ♭7 | F | sounding |
3rd, ♭7, ♭9, and ♯11 of D♭7♭9♯11 sound; it reads as D♭7♭9♯11 with the D♭ (1) and A♭ (5) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D♭ | omitted |
| 3 | F | sounding |
| 5 | A♭ | omitted |
| ♭7 | C♭ | sounding |
| ♭9 | E♭♭ | sounding |
| ♯11 | G | sounding |
Not these chords
Names these notes are often mistaken for. Each is ruled out because a defining tone of that chord is missing — the note that would make the name true simply is not being played.
Not G7♯11: a dominant 7th sharp 11 G chord needs C♯ as its ♯11 — C♯ is absent.
Not G9: a dominant 9th G chord needs A as its 9th — A is absent.
Not G7♭9: a dominant 7th ♭9 G chord needs A♭ as its ♭9 — A♭ is absent.
Not G7♯9: a dominant 7th ♯9 G chord needs A♯ as its ♯9 — A♯ is absent.
Not G7♭13: a dominant 7th ♭13 G chord needs E♭ as its ♭13 — E♭ is absent.
How these notes relate
D, F, G, and B is a voicing of D♭7♭9♯11 with the D♭ (root) and A♭ (5th) left out.
Add C♯ (its ♯11) and the set reads as G7♯11.
Set-class analysis
The pitch-class set theory identity of these notes — order- and key-independent, computed from the set itself.
- Pitch-class set
- {2, 5, 7, 11}
- Normal order
- [11,2,5,7]
- Prime form
- [0,2,5,8]
- Interval vector
- <012111>
- Forte set class
- 4-27
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