Db chord (D flat major) on bass
Db (D flat major) has three notes: D flat, F and A flat. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. In major keys, Db is the I chord in Db major, the IV in Ab major and the V in F# major.
How to play Db 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, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Db |
|---|---|
| Also written | Dbmaj, DbM |
| Notes | Db F Ab |
| Formula | 1 3 5 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Major chord |
Db 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 9 Db (1), fret 13 F (3), fret 16 Ab (5), fret 21 Db (1).
- A string: fret 4 Db (1), fret 8 F (3), fret 11 Ab (5), fret 16 Db (1), fret 20 F (3), fret 23 Ab (5).
- D string: fret 3 F (3), fret 6 Ab (5), fret 11 Db (1), fret 15 F (3), fret 18 Ab (5), fret 23 Db (1).
- G string: fret 1 Ab (5), fret 6 Db (1), fret 10 F (3), fret 13 Ab (5), fret 18 Db (1), fret 22 F (3).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Questions
What notes are in the Db chord?
Db (D flat major) has three notes: D flat, F and A flat. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. Db is the root, F is the major third and Ab is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Db 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 Db in?
In major keys, Db is the I chord in Db major, the IV in Ab major and the V in F# major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Db and C#m?
Db has a major 3rd, F. C#m lowers it a half step to E, which is what makes it sound minor. The root and 5th stay the same.