Chords in the key of Db major
The key of Db major has seven diatonic chords: Db, EbmEbmEbmEbm, FmFmFmFm, Gb, Ab, BbmBbmBbmBbm and C°. As sevenths: Dbmaj7Dbmaj7Dbmaj7Dbmaj7, Ebm7Ebm7Ebm7Ebm7, Fm7Fm7Fm7Fm7, Gbmaj7Gbmaj7Gbmaj7Gbmaj7, Ab7Ab7Ab7Ab7, Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7 and Cm7b5. They come from the Db major scale, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb and C, one on each note.
The table shows each chord in two versions: the triad (the three-note chord) and the seventh chord (the same chord with a fourth note, the seventh, that enriches it).
Notes: Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C| Degree | Triad | Seventh | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | DbDbDbDb | Dbmaj7Dbmaj7Dbmaj7Dbmaj7 | tonic |
| ii | EbmEbmEbmEbm | Ebm7Ebm7Ebm7Ebm7 | subdominant |
| iii | FmFmFmFm | Fm7Fm7Fm7Fm7 | tonic |
| IV | GbGbGbGb | Gbmaj7Gbmaj7Gbmaj7Gbmaj7 | subdominant |
| V | AbAbAbAb | Ab7Ab7Ab7Ab7 | dominant |
| vi | BbmBbmBbmBbm | Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7 | tonic |
| vii° | C° | Cm7b5 | dominant |
The roman numerals mark the chord's position in the scale: I is the first degree, V the fifth. Uppercase = major chord; lowercase = minor; ° = diminished.
Tonic chords stabilize and rest; subdominant chords prepare motion; dominant chords build the tension that asks for resolution.