Db Guitar Chord
Db Major · also written C# · Db–F–Ab
Db is the Db major chord: Db–F–Ab. Its sound is bright and resolved — the foundational happy sound of pop, rock, country, and folk. It's also written as C# — same notes, same shapes, different spelling.
You'll meet Db constantly because it lives in several common keys: it's the I chord in Db major, the IV chord in Ab major, and the V chord in F# major. That makes it a building block of I–IV–V and I–V–vi–IV progressions in those keys.
The most common way to play Db is the barre shape at the 1st fret (x 4 3 1 2 1, low E string to high E string). Below you'll find 9 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.
How to Play Db: 9 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
Db Chord Theory
| Interval | R | 3 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Db | F | Ab |
Db is built from the Db major scale.
Db Chord FAQ
What notes are in the Db chord?
Db contains 3 notes: Db (R), F (3), Ab (5). The interval formula for a major chord is R–3–5.
What is the easiest way to play Db on guitar?
Use the barre shape at the 1st fret: x 4 3 1 2 1 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). Db has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.
What is the difference between Db and Dbm?
One note: the 3rd. Db major uses the major 3rd (F) while Db minor flattens it to E. That half-step is the entire difference between the bright major sound and the darker minor sound.
Is Db the same as C#?
Yes. Db and C# are enharmonic equivalents — the same pitch written two ways. Db and C# use identical shapes and frets; which spelling you see depends on the key of the song.
What keys use the Db chord?
Db appears diatonically in Db major (as I), Ab major (as IV), and F# major (as V) — plus Bb minor, its relative minor key.
Related Chords
Hear yourself play Db
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