Piano chords · Major 7th chord
D♭maj7 piano chord (D♭ major seventh)
D♭maj7 (also written C♯maj7) is a major seventh chord with 4 notes. It sounds soft, dreamy and a little jazzy. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
D♭ – F – A♭ – C · tap any key to hear it
The notes of D♭maj7
D♭maj7 is built from 4 notes (1 – 3 – 5 – 7):
- D♭, the root
- F, the major third
- A♭, the fifth
- C, the major seventh
D♭ and A♭ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on D♭, 2 on F, 3 on A♭, 5 on C.
- Left hand: 5 on D♭, 3 on F, 2 on A♭, 1 on C.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | D♭ – F – A♭ – C |
| 1st inversion | F – A♭ – C – D♭ |
| 2nd inversion | A♭ – C – D♭ – F |
| 3rd inversion | C – D♭ – F – A♭ |
Where D♭maj7 belongs
D♭maj7 is the Imaj7 chord in D♭ major and the IVmaj7 chord in A♭ major. It's everywhere in jazz, soul, bossa nova and gentle pop.
D♭maj7 is D♭ with a major seventh, C, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. D♭7 has a minor seventh (C♭) instead, and sounds bluesier.
Hear it in a progression
D♭maj7 – B♭m7 – E♭m7 – A♭7: Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7, a smooth jazz and soul turnaround.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the D♭maj7 chord?
D♭maj7 (D♭ major seventh) is made of D♭, F, A♭ and C: the root, major third, fifth and major seventh.
How do you play D♭maj7 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on D♭, 2 on F, 3 on A♭, 5 on C, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on D♭, 3 on F, 2 on A♭, 1 on C.
How is D♭maj7 different from the plain chord?
D♭maj7 is D♭ with a major seventh, C, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. D♭7 has a minor seventh (C♭) instead, and sounds bluesier.