How To Play D Flat Chord On Guitar?
In today's lesson, we'll go over 5 distinct ways to play the D flat major chord or Db chord on guitar.
We'll discover common positions, voicings, and recommend finger placements, each with its own chord diagram as well as tips to make smooth chord transitions. We'll also discuss chord theory, how it gets its name, how to use it, and some killer songs to practice to.
Db Major Chord With Barre Chords (Easy)
The easiest way to play The Db chord on guitar is actually a barre chord. To play, place your:
First finger on the 6th fret of the 4th string and bar across strings 2 -4
Where this voicing is not in root position, it would be considered an inversion. Inversions simply mean the root note of a chord (in this case, the Db note), is not the bass note.
When an inversion is written, it is often referred to as a slash chord, such as Db/Ab. This simply means play the Db but have the Ab note as the lowest note.
Play The Db Chord Without Barre
The next voicing for the Bb chord is a killer way to prepare your hands for barre chords. To play, place your:
- Index finger on the sixth string, 9th fret
- Third finger on the 5th string, 11th fret
- Fourth finger on the 4th string, 11th fret
- Middle finger on the 7th fret of the third string
Only strum four strings and avoid strumming the first and second strings. If needed, use a mirror to ensure you have proper form.
Playing Db Major Chord With Barre Chords
Db Guitar Chord With E Shape
Similar to the shape above, this example is going to be exactly the same, but you will simply press your index finger to the side as your other fingers squeeze in. You will be barring across all the strings, and as far as barre chords for major chords, this is the most popular voicing.
Db Guitar Chord With A Shape
This is going to be similar to the first Db chord we learned, but this time, we are going to barre with your ring finger while your index finger presses on the fifth string, fourth fret.
To play this chord correctly, the thumb of your left hand (fret hand) must be in the middle of your hand, and your ring finger knuckle must be high so that it can "scoop" down and lay flat. (see video)
Db Guitar Chord Inversion
The last voicing we'll discuss for Db major is also an inversion. To play, place your:
3rd finger on the fourth string, 3rd fret
Second finger on 2nd string, 2nd fret
First finger on the third string, first fret
As you squeeze in barre with your first finger
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Db Chord Tips
Tip #1
The #1 mistake players make in learning how to play new chords is that they don't memorize them. If you have to constantly look at where to place your fingers, your mind/body won't develop proper coordination. Focus on learning just a few chords at a given time.
Tip #2
To learn the Db major chord, play the chord very slowly so that all your fingers attack the strings simultaneously. Your chord changes will always be slow if you place your fingers on the fretboard one at a time.
Tip #3
Be sure your thumb is in the correct position. The #1 reason why players struggle with chords, have stiff fingers, think they have small hands, etc.. is due to a simple two-second fix... The thumb needs to be in the correct position. If it's on the outside of your index finger, your hand will not work properly.
Easy Songs Using D Flat Major
Greenday - American Idiot
Greenday - Holiday
Db Guitar Chord Theory
Now, let’s break down the theory of the Db chord so you can better understand how to use it.
The Db major chord is built from the Db major scale, also written as D flat major scale: Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C. When reading standard notation or charts, you'll know if the song is in the key of Db because at the beginning of the music, the key signature will show three flats.
Now, to understand the chord formula, you need to understand "scale degrees," which is simply numbering the notes of the scale starting with the root note.
When teaching theory, guitar teachers often reference the piano due to the simplicity of the layout of piano keys especially where the D flat major scale uses a lot of black keys, but I think the illustration below will do:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C
As you can see I have bolded the notes of the db major scale that are used to create a D flat major chord. In music theory, we need the 1 3 5 scale degrees of a major scale to create a major chord. You must have these three notes (no more, no less) to make a Db chord.
Yes, we could get into more in-depth theory, such as where the scale comes and what a perfect fifth is, but this discussion would need to be its own topic.
Now you know a few ways to play the Db major chord and understand some Db chord theory!
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