Chord Library
Tip meOpen App →

D♭6

Character: sweet

  1. D♭Rtriad
  2. F3triad
  3. A♭5triad
  4. B♭6add
Open D♭6 in the chord libraryDownload the D♭6 chart (PDF)
Voicings

12 ways to play D♭6

Every voicing sits inside one of the five CAGED shapes, low to high on the neck, with its octave doublings in grey.

  • Triad note
  • Substitute
  • Added
  • Anchored root
  • Bass
  • Doubling
CC shape 1st inversion D♭6/F
1 2 3 4 5 R 6 3 5 R

Frets x 4 3 3 2 4Notes F B♭ D♭Intervals 3 6 1Base triadD♭ major, 1st inversion

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

CC shape Root position D♭6
1 2 3 4 5 6 3 R

Frets x 4 3 3 x xNotes D♭ F B♭Intervals 1 3 6Base triadD♭ major, root position

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

CC shape 2nd inversion D♭6/A♭
1 2 3 4 6 3 R 5

Frets 4 4 3 3 x xNotes A♭ D♭ F B♭Intervals 5 1 3 6Base triadD♭ major, 2nd inversion

The 6th gets a string of its own.

AA shape 2nd inversion D♭6/A♭
4 5 6 7 6 3 R 5 R

Frets x 4 6 6 6 6Notes A♭ D♭ F B♭Intervals 5 1 3 6Base triadD♭ major, 2nd inversion

The 6th gets a string of its own.

AA shape Root position D♭6
4 5 6 7 5 6 3 R

Frets x x x 6 6 6Notes D♭ F B♭Intervals 1 3 6Base triadD♭ major, root position

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

GG shape 1st inversion D♭6/F
6 7 8 9 5 R 6 3 R 3 R

Frets 9 8 8 6 6 9Notes F B♭ D♭Intervals 3 6 1Base triadD♭ major, 1st inversion

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

GG shape Root position D♭6
6 7 8 9 10 5 6 3 R R 5 3

Frets 9 8 8 10 9 9Notes D♭ F B♭Intervals 1 3 6Base triadD♭ major, root position

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape 1st inversion D♭6/F
9 10 11 12 5 R 6 3 R 5 R

Frets 9 11 11 10 11 9Notes F B♭ D♭Intervals 3 6 1Base triadD♭ major, 1st inversion

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape Root position D♭6
9 10 11 12 5 6 3 R R

Frets 9 x 11 10 11 xNotes D♭ F B♭Intervals 1 3 6Base triadD♭ major, root position

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape 2nd inversion D♭6/A♭
9 10 11 12 6 3 R 5 R

Frets 9 11 11 10 11 xNotes A♭ D♭ F B♭Intervals 5 1 3 6Base triadD♭ major, 2nd inversion

The 6th gets a string of its own.

EE shape 2nd inversion AnchoredD♭6
8 9 10 11 R 3 6 5 R

Frets 9 11 8 10 x xNotes D♭ A♭ B♭ FIntervals 1 5 6 3Base triadD♭ major, 2nd inversion

The root drops to the string below the triad. The 6th takes the root’s string.

DD shape 2nd inversion D♭6/B♭
1 2 3 4 5 3 R 6

Frets x x x 3 2 1Notes B♭ D♭ FIntervals 6 1 3Base triadD♭ major, 2nd inversion

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

The rules

The construction rules D♭6 follows

  1. Start from a triad

    Root, 3rd and 5th, stacked in thirds. The 3rd makes it major or minor; the 5th makes it diminished or augmented when it moves.

  2. No 7th, no stack

    6, add9, add11 and 6/9 are a triad with a colour note, not a stack. Without a 7th the chord sounds open rather than jazzy.

  3. On guitar, something has to give

    Each extension takes the string of a triad note that matters less, usually the 5th, or gets a string of its own. The root and 3rd stay: they say what the chord is.

  4. The root can move down

    When an extension needs the root’s string, the root can drop to the string below the triad: an anchored voicing keeps the bass and frees a string on top.

All the rules, with examples, in the guide to the chord library.

Major 6th in every key

More chords on D♭

D♭6 chord questions

What notes are in D♭6?

D♭6 is spelled D♭ F A♭ B♭: D♭ is the root, F is the 3rd, A♭ is the 5th, B♭ is the 6th.

What is the formula of D♭6?

1 3 5 6. It is a D♭ major triad with the 6th stacked on top.

How many ways can you play D♭6 on guitar?

This page shows 12 voicings of D♭6, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.