What notes are in the Db/5 chord?

Db/5 is made of Ab, Db and F — the 5, 1 and 3 degrees of a major second inversion chord built on Db.

What keys use the Db/5 chord?

Every note of Db/5 belongs to 10 keys: Ab Major (IV), Db Major (I), F# Major (V), Gb Major (V), C# Major (I), F Minor (VI), Bb Minor (III), D# Minor (VII), Eb Minor (VII), A# Minor (III). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.

How do you play Db/5 on guitar and piano?

This page shows Db/5 on piano — 1 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.

Is Db/5 the same as C#/5?

Yes. Db/5 and C#/5 are enharmonic — identical pitches written two different ways. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are in; Db/5 is the spelling this site treats as canonical.

Chord · Db Major (2nd Inversion)

D♭/5 Chord

D♭/5 is Ab, Db and F — major triad with the fifth in the bass.

Hear it

D♭/5 on every instrument

The same 3 notes, 1 sets of hands. Open a diagram for alternate shapes, audio and the mistakes to avoid.

Piano1 voicing

What D♭/5 is made of

Db Major (2nd Inversion) (Db major (2nd inversion)) is built from the notes Ab, Db, F, with the interval pattern 5, 1, 3. A common major (2nd inversion) chord across many styles.

Stack 5, 1 and 3 on a root of D♭ and you get Ab, Db and F. That interval recipe is what makes the chord a major second inversion chord — move the same shape to another root and the character travels with it, which is why C/5 sounds like a transposed D♭/5.

Major (2nd Inversion): Major triad with the fifth in the bass.

Spelling: the notes above are written the way a score would write them, not simplified to the nearest piano key. That is why this chord is spelled with A♭ rather than its enharmonic equivalent.

Keys that contain D♭/5

All 3 notes sit inside the scale of 10 keys. The roman numeral marks the degree the chord is rooted on.

Major keys

Minor keys

Other chords on D♭

Same root, different colour.

D♭Db Major D♭augDb Augmented D♭sus2Db Suspended 2nd D♭sus4Db Suspended 4th D♭5Db Power Chord D♭6Db Major 6th D♭6/9Db 6/9 D♭7Db Dominant 7th

The same major second inversion shape, moved

The identical interval recipe, built on other roots.

C/5C Major (2nd Inversion)D/5D Major (2nd Inversion)E/5E Major (2nd Inversion)G/5G Major (2nd Inversion)A/5A Major (2nd Inversion)B/5B Major (2nd Inversion)F♯/5F# Major (2nd Inversion)E♭/5Eb Major (2nd Inversion)

Questions people ask about Db/5

What notes are in the Db/5 chord?: Db/5 is made of Ab, Db and F — the 5, 1 and 3 degrees of a major second inversion chord built on Db.
What keys use the Db/5 chord?: Every note of Db/5 belongs to 10 keys: Ab Major (IV), Db Major (I), F# Major (V), Gb Major (V), C# Major (I), F Minor (VI), Bb Minor (III), D# Minor (VII), Eb Minor (VII), A# Minor (III). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.
How do you play Db/5 on guitar and piano?: This page shows Db/5 on piano — 1 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.
Is Db/5 the same as C#/5?: Yes. Db/5 and C#/5 are enharmonic — identical pitches written two different ways. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are in; Db/5 is the spelling this site treats as canonical.

Learn the theory behind it

Why D♭/5 behaves the way it does — the guides that explain the chord instead of just spelling it.

Chord Inversions and Slash Chords — Same Notes, Different AttitudeSame notes, different bass note — what the slash in the name is actually doing.5 min read Voice Leading — Hold What You Can, Move Only What You MustInversions exist so your fingers move less between chords. This is the technique behind them.6 min read Functional Harmony: Three Roles, One EngineAn inverted chord still has a job in the key. Here is how to hear it.6 min read