What notes are in the Dbsus4 chord?

Dbsus4 is made of Db, Gb and Ab — the 1, 4 and 5 degrees of a suspended fourth chord built on Db.

What keys use the Dbsus4 chord?

Every note of Dbsus4 belongs to 16 keys: A Major (iii), E Major (vi), B Major (ii), Db Major (I), F# Major (V), Gb Major (V), C# Major (I), Cb Major (ii), F# Minor (v), C# Minor (i), Bb Minor (III), G# Minor (iv), D# Minor (VII), Eb Minor (VII), A# Minor (III), Ab Minor (iv). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.

How do you play Dbsus4 on guitar and piano?

This page shows Dbsus4 on guitar, piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo — 10 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.

Is Dbsus4 the same as C#sus4?

Yes. Dbsus4 and C#sus4 are enharmonic — identical pitches written two different ways. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are in; Dbsus4 is the spelling this site treats as canonical.

Chord · Db Suspended 4th

D♭sus4 Chord

D♭sus4 is Db, Gb and Ab — tense, wants to resolve to the major.

Hear it

D♭sus4 on every instrument

The same 3 notes, 6 sets of hands. Open a diagram for alternate shapes, audio and the mistakes to avoid.

What D♭sus4 is made of

Db Suspended 4th (Db suspended 4th) is built from the notes Db, Gb, Ab, with the interval pattern 1, 4, 5. A common suspended 4th chord across many styles.

Stack 1, 4 and 5 on a root of D♭ and you get Db, Gb and Ab. That interval recipe is what makes the chord a suspended fourth chord — move the same shape to another root and the character travels with it, which is why Csus4 sounds like a transposed D♭sus4.

Suspended 4th: Tense, wants to resolve to the major.

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 D♭ rather than its enharmonic equivalent.

Keys that contain D♭sus4

All 3 notes sit inside the scale of 16 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♭5Db Power Chord D♭6Db Major 6th D♭6/9Db 6/9 D♭7Db Dominant 7th D♭maj7Db Major 7th

The same suspended fourth shape, moved

The identical interval recipe, built on other roots.

Csus4C Suspended 4th Dsus4D Suspended 4th Esus4E Suspended 4th Fsus4F Suspended 4th Gsus4G Suspended 4th Asus4A Suspended 4th Bsus4B Suspended 4th F♯sus4F# Suspended 4th

Questions people ask about Dbsus4

What notes are in the Dbsus4 chord?: Dbsus4 is made of Db, Gb and Ab — the 1, 4 and 5 degrees of a suspended fourth chord built on Db.
What keys use the Dbsus4 chord?: Every note of Dbsus4 belongs to 16 keys: A Major (iii), E Major (vi), B Major (ii), Db Major (I), F# Major (V), Gb Major (V), C# Major (I), Cb Major (ii), F# Minor (v), C# Minor (i), Bb Minor (III), G# Minor (iv), D# Minor (VII), Eb Minor (VII), A# Minor (III), Ab Minor (iv). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.
How do you play Dbsus4 on guitar and piano?: This page shows Dbsus4 on guitar, piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo — 10 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.
Is Dbsus4 the same as C#sus4?: Yes. Dbsus4 and C#sus4 are enharmonic — identical pitches written two different ways. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are in; Dbsus4 is the spelling this site treats as canonical.

Learn the theory behind it

Why D♭sus4 behaves the way it does — the guides that explain the chord instead of just spelling it.

Chord Inversions and Slash Chords — Same Notes, Different AttitudeSuspending or adding a tone is a voicing decision, the same kind as an inversion or a slash chord.5 min read Chord Progressions ExplainedThese chords earn their keep inside a progression, leaning on the plain chord that follows.7 min read Intervals — The Only Music Theory You Actually NeedWhich degree got swapped in, and what that one interval changes.5 min read