D♭ major 6th chord on piano
D♭6 is a major 6th chord built on D♭. It uses the notes D♭ - F - A♭ - B♭ and sounds sweet and nostalgic, heard often in swing and old pop. It is also written as C♯ major 6th.
- Notes
- D♭ F A♭ B♭
- Formula
- 1 - 3 - 5 - 6
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 2 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 2 - 1
- Chord symbol
- D♭6
How to play D♭6 step by step
- Find D♭. D♭ is the first black key in each group of two. The same key is also called C♯.
- Add F, 4 half steps above D♭.
- Add A♭, 7 half steps above D♭.
- Add B♭, 9 half steps above D♭.
- Press all 4 keys together with fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
D♭6 inversions
An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D♭ major 6th chord?
The D♭ major 6th chord (D♭6) contains 4 notes: D♭, F, A♭, B♭. Its formula is 1 - 3 - 5 - 6.
How do you play D♭6 on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on D♭ and play D♭, F, A♭, B♭ together using fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 2 - 1.
Is D♭ major 6th the same as C♯ major 6th?
Yes. D♭ major 6th and C♯ major 6th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.