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D-flat Major Chord
The D-flat Major Chord is D-flat, F, and A-flat: black, white, black. The thumb and fifth finger both play black keys, with F in the middle, so the hand sits naturally in toward the fallboard. It has the same keys as C-sharp major, and many pianists find it one of the most comfortable major chords to play.
How to play the D-flat Major Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the D-flat Major Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.
The D-flat Major Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the D♭ major chord are stacked in thirds with D♭ on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.
| D-flat Major Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | D♭ F A♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | D♭ |
The D-flat Major Chord in first inversion
In first inversion, the third of the chord (F) becomes the bottom note, and the root (D♭) jumps up to the top.
| D-flat Major Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | F A♭ D♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 5 |
| Chord Symbol | D♭6 or D♭/F |
The D-flat Major Chord in second inversion
In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (A♭) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (F) goes to the top.
| D-flat Major Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | A♭ D♭ F |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | D♭6/4 or D♭/A♭ |
D-flat Major Chord theory and function
A major chord is the most settled sound in tonal music. What it does depends on the key around it: it can be home, it can lead away from home, or it can pull back toward it.
The D♭ major chord is the tonic (I) in D♭ major, the dominant (V) in G♭ major, and the subdominant (IV) in A♭ major. In minor keys, it is the mediant (III) in B♭ minor, the submediant (VI) in F minor, and the subtonic (VII) in E♭ minor. On the keyboard this is the same chord as C♯ major, and the spelling follows the key. The C♯ major chord is the dominant (V) in F♯ minor.
Three chords, I, IV, and V, account for a great deal of the hymns, folk songs, and early classical pieces a student will meet. In D♭ major that is D♭ – G♭ – A♭ – D♭. Try listening for the job the chord is doing: after the dominant it sounds like arriving, and after the tonic it sounds like stepping away.
Other chords built on D-flat
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