Db7 chord (D flat dominant seventh) on bass
Db7 (D flat dominant seventh) has four notes: D flat, F, A flat and C flat. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, b7. In major keys, Db7 is the V7 chord in F# major.
How to play Db7 on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on D.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on D, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on D, 2 on G.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Db7 |
|---|---|
| Also written | Dbdom7 |
| Notes | Db F Ab Cb |
| Formula | 1 3 5 b7 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh |
| Type | Dominant seventh chord |
Db7 across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 1 F (3), fret 4 Ab (5), fret 7 Cb (flat 7), fret 9 Db (1), fret 13 F (3), fret 16 Ab (5), fret 19 Cb (flat 7), fret 21 Db (1).
- A string: fret 2 Cb (flat 7), fret 4 Db (1), fret 8 F (3), fret 11 Ab (5), fret 14 Cb (flat 7), fret 16 Db (1), fret 20 F (3), fret 23 Ab (5).
- D string: fret 3 F (3), fret 6 Ab (5), fret 9 Cb (flat 7), fret 11 Db (1), fret 15 F (3), fret 18 Ab (5), fret 21 Cb (flat 7), fret 23 Db (1).
- G string: fret 1 Ab (5), fret 4 Cb (flat 7), fret 6 Db (1), fret 10 F (3), fret 13 Ab (5), fret 16 Cb (flat 7), fret 18 Db (1), fret 22 F (3).
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Questions
What notes are in the Db7 chord?
Db7 (D flat dominant seventh) has four notes: D flat, F, A flat and C flat. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, b7. Db is the root, F is the major third, Ab is the perfect fifth and Cb is the minor seventh.
How do you play Db7 on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 5th: 1 5, root on the E string, fret 9. Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
What key is Db7 in?
In major keys, Db7 is the V7 chord in F# major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Db7 and Db?
Db7 is Db (Db, F and Ab) with a flat 7th added: Cb.