Skip to content
Home » ADD CHORDS » 6th » Db6 Piano Chord – Charts, Harmony and Music Theory

Db6 Piano Chord

    Piano Diagram of Db6 in Root Position

    Db6 Chord - Root Position

    Db6 is a four-note chord consisting of the notes Db, F, Ab, and Bb. It is a major chord with an added sixth. It belongs to the chord family of “added tone chords” (aka “add chord”). Keep reading to gain a deeper understanding of the music theory behind this chord.

     

    Structure of Db6

    Notes
    Db, F, Ab, Bb

    Intervals
    R, 3, 5, 6

     

    Finger Position

    Left Hand
    5, 3, 2, 1

    5, 4, 2, 1

    Right Hand
    1, 2, 4, 5

    1, 2, 3, 4

     

    Db6 Chord Inversions

     

    The Db6 chord has a total of 3 inversions:

    Root Position: Db F Ab Bb
    1st Inversion: F Ab Bb Db
    2nd Inversion: Ab Bb Db F
    3rd Inversion: Bb Db F Ab

     Piano Keyboard Diagrams

    Music Theory and Harmony of Db6

    Building the Db6 Chord: Different Approaches

    Starting from the Db Major Scale

    To create a 6th chord, you can use the Major scale as a reference by combining a Root, a 3rd, a 5th, and a 6th.

     

    Db Major Diatonic Scale

    Db Major Scale

     

    Db Major Diatonic Scale up to 13th - Keyless Notation

    Keyless Notation of the Db Major scale.

     

    Apply the formula R, 3, 5, 6 to build a 6th chord:

    1. Select the Root note, which is Db.
    2. Pick the 3rd note, which is F, and add it to the chord.
    3. Add the 5th note, which is Ab, and include it as well.
    4. Finally, add the 6th which is Bb

     

    by Combining Intervals

    To build a 6th chord, one approach is to combine specific intervals, namely a major 3rd, a minor 3rd, and a major 2nd (a whole-tone).

    3 + m3 + 2 = 6th chords

    For instance, when building a Db6 chord, you can observe that

    • Db-F forms a major 3rd interval,
    • F-Ab creates a minor 3rd interval, and
    • Ab-Bb makes up a whole-tone interval.

    By stacking these intervals together, you can form a Db6 chord.

     

    6th Chords Equivalencies

    If we take the third inversion of a 6th chord (which means we move the notes around so that the 6th note becomes the Root note), we end up with a new chord that is equivalent to a min7 chord.

    So, if we take the Db6 chord (which has the notes Db, F, Ab, and Bb) and move the notes around so that Bb becomes the Root note, we end up with a new chord that is equivalent to a Bb min7 chord (which has the notes Bb, Db, F, and Ab).

    3rd inversion of Db6 = Bb min7

     

    How to Use Db6 in a Chord Progression

     

    Since 6th are based on major triads with an extra sixth, they can substitute the major chords built on the scale of the root. This means that we can use the Db6 chord in those positions on the scale where the harmonization results in a major chord.

    This table showcases the harmonized major and natural minor scales where a Db Major chord can be found. In all positions where a Db Maj7 chord is present, the Db6 chord can be used as a variation.

    on Major Scales

    Major Scales I ii iii IV V vi vii
    Db Db Maj7 ⇒ Db6 Eb min7 F min7 Gb Maj7 Ab7 Bb min7 Cm7b5
    Ab Ab Maj7 Bb min7 C min7 Db Maj7 ⇒ Db6 Eb7 F min7 Gm7b5
    • Tonic chord in Db Major
    • Subdominant chord in Ab Major

    on Natural minor Scales

    Minor Scales i ii III iv v VI VII
    Bb Bb min7 Cm7b5 Db Maj7 ⇒ Db6 Eb min7 F min7 Gb Maj7 Ab7
    F F min7 Gm7b5 Ab Maj7 Bb min7 C min7 Db Maj7 ⇒ Db6 Eb7
    • Mediant chord in Bb minor
    • Submediant chord in F minor

     

    Db6 in Db Major

    The 6th interval is a consonant interval, which means it doesn’t create any tension that needs to be resolved. It’s stable and often used as a substitute for the tonic chord, which is usually the main chord in a musical piece.

    The A6th chord can be used instead of a Db major (or Db major 7th chord), which is the first chord in the harmonized Db major scale.

    In a major key, the I chord (built on the first degree of the major scale) serves as the tonic chord, providing the harmonic center of the chord progression.

    I ii iii IV V vi vii
    Db Maj7 ⇒ Db6 Eb min7 F min7 Gb Maj7 Ab7 Bb min7 Cm7b5

     

    Db6 Chord Progressions as I degree

    Replacing a standard major chord with a 6th chord can enhance the richness and complexity of your music. Here’s a chord progression that demonstrates how the Db6 chord can function as a substitute for the tonic (I degree) in a chord progression:

     

    II V I
    ii V I
    Eb min7 Ab7 Db6

     

    I IV V
    I IV V
    Db6 Gb Maj7 Ab7

     

    I V vi IV
    I V vi IV
    Db6 Ab7 Bb min7 Gb Maj7

     

    I IV vi V
    I IV vi V
    Db6 Gb Maj7 Bb min7 Ab7

     

    Db6 in Ab Major

    The Db6 chord can also be used as the fourth degree of the Ab major scale as a substitute for the Db Maj7. When applied to the I-IV-V progression, this chord on the fourth degree acts as a transitional chord between the first and fifth degrees.

    I ii iii IV V vi vii
    Ab Maj7 Bb min7 C min7 Db Maj7 ⇒ Db6 Eb7 F min7 Gm7b5

     

    Db6 as IV degree – Chord Progressions

    Try playing these chord progressions to get an idea of how Db6 functions as a substitute for the subdominant (IV degree) in a chord progression.

     

    I IV V
    I IV V
    Ab Maj7 Db6 Eb7

     

    I V vi IV
    I V vi IV
    Ab Maj7 Eb7 F min7 Db6

     

    I IV vi V
    I IV vi V
    Ab Maj7 Db6 F min7 Eb7

     

    Db6 in Bb minor

    Similarly, in Bb minor, the Db6 chord can be used as a substitute for the Db Maj7 chord on the third degree.

    i ii III iv v VI VII
    Bb min7 Cm7b5 Db Maj7 ⇒ Db6 Eb min7 F min7 Gb Maj7 Ab7

     

    Db6 as III degree – Chord Progressions

    These chord progressions show the Db6 chord as a substitute for the mediant (III degree) chord.

     

    i III
    i III
    Bb min7 Db6

     

    i III VII VI
    i III VII VI
    Bb min7 Db6 Ab7 Gb Maj7

     

    Circle Progression
    i vi VII III VI ii V i
    Bb min7 Eb min7 Ab7 Db6 Gb Maj7 C dim7 F7 Bb min7

     

    Db6 in F minor

    In the key of F, you can also substitute a Db6 chord for a Db Maj7 chord when the Db Maj7 chord appears on the sixth degree of the F minor scale. This is another situation where the Db6 chord can be used as a replacement.

    i ii III iv v VI VII
    F min7 Gm7b5 Ab Maj7 Bb min7 C min7 Db Maj7 ⇒ Db6 Eb7

     

    Db6 as VI degree – Chord Progressions

    You may want to experiment with these chord progressions to understand how the Db6 chord can be used instead of the Db Maj7 chord when it acts as the submediant (VI degree) in an F minor scale.

     

    i VI VII
    i VI VII
    F min7 Db6 Eb7

     

    i v VI VII
    i v VI VII
    F min7 C min7 Db6 Eb7

     

    i III VII VI
    i III VII VI
    F min7 Ab Maj7 Eb7 Db6

     

    Circle Progression
    i vi VII III VI ii V i
    F min7 Bb min7 Eb7 Ab Maj7 Db6 Gm7b5 C7 F min7

     

    Alternative Names for Db6 Chord

    • Reb6
    • Db 6th
    • Db M6
    • Db sixth
    • Db add6
    • Db Maj6
    • Db major6
    • Db major 6th
    • Db major sixth
    • Db major add 6th

     

     

    Tags:

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Page Contents

    → INDEX