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D-flat Dominant 7th Chord
The D-flat Dominant 7th Chord is D-flat, F, A-flat, and C-flat. The C-flat is the white key B, so the chord alternates black and white keys. It's a strong, full sound that pulls toward G-flat, and the alternating keys make the 1-2-3-5 fingering feel natural once the hand settles into the black keys.
How to play the D-flat Dominant 7th Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the D-flat Dominant 7th 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 Dominant 7th Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the D♭ dominant 7th 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 Dominant 7th Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | D♭ F A♭ C♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | D♭7 |
The D-flat Dominant 7th 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 Dominant 7th Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | F A♭ C♭ D♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 4 5 |
| Chord Symbol | D♭6/5 or D♭7/F |
The D-flat Dominant 7th 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 Dominant 7th Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | A♭ C♭ D♭ F |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | D♭4/3 or D♭7/A♭ |
The D-flat Dominant 7th Chord in third inversion
In third inversion, the seventh of the chord (C♭) is on the bottom, and the fifth of the chord (A♭) goes to the top.
| D-flat Dominant 7th Chord in 3rd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | C♭ D♭ F A♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 4 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | D♭4/2 or D♭7/C♭ |
D-flat Dominant 7th Chord theory and function
The dominant 7th is the chord that most wants to resolve. Its third and seventh form a tritone, and each of those notes pulls by step: the third up, the seventh down. That pull is what makes V7 lead so firmly to I.
The D♭ dominant 7th chord is the dominant (V7) in G♭ major. On the keyboard this is the same chord as C♯ dominant 7th, and the spelling follows the key. The C♯ dominant 7th chord is the dominant (V7) in F♯ minor.
The resolution is D♭7 – G♭: F steps up to G♭ and C♭ steps down to B♭. At a cadence, V7 – I is the sound of a phrase ending. When a dominant 7th chord turns up in a key where it isn’t the V7 (the chord built on the fifth scale degree), it is almost always pointing at the chord a fourth above it. Try playing D♭7 and then G♭ and listen for those two half steps.
Other chords built on D-flat
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