D Flat Major: Scale, Chords and Progressions

Chords in the key of D flat major

The key of D flat major has 5 flats in the key signature (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭). Its scale is D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C and its seven chords are D♭, E♭m, Fm, G♭, A♭, B♭m and Cdim. The most common progression is D♭ – A♭ – B♭m – G♭. Its relative key is B flat minor. With a capo on fret 1, you can play it with the shapes of C major.

The chords in the key

D♭ is home; G♭ and A♭ create the movement and tension that lead back to it, and B♭m adds the minor colour. The four-note versions add the seventh.

Degree	Chord	Notes	Role	With seventh
I	D♭	D♭ – F – A♭	Tonic: home	D♭maj7
ii	E♭m	E♭ – G♭ – B♭	Subdominant	E♭m7
iii	Fm	F – A♭ – C	Tonic substitute	Fm7
IV	G♭	G♭ – B♭ – D♭	Subdominant	G♭maj7
V	A♭	A♭ – C – E♭	Dominant: tension	A♭7
vi	B♭m	B♭ – D♭ – F	Relative tonic	B♭m7
vii°	Cdim	C – E♭ – G♭	Dominant (leading tone)	—

Scale

D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C

With a capo

To make a song sound in D flat major with easy open shapes:

Capo on fret 1: play the shapes of C major
Capo on fret 4: play the shapes of A major
Capo on fret 6: play the shapes of G major

Common progressions

Loop them in the chord player and use them as the base of a song.

D♭ – A♭ – B♭m – G♭ I – V – vi – IV Play in the chord player
D♭ – B♭m – G♭ – A♭ I – vi – IV – V Play in the chord player
E♭m7 – A♭7 – D♭maj7 – D♭maj7 ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 – Imaj7 Play in the chord player
D♭ – G♭ – A♭ – D♭ I – IV – V – I Play in the chord player

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of D flat major?

Its seven chords are D♭, E♭m, Fm, G♭, A♭, B♭m and Cdim.

How many sharps or flats does D flat major have?

It has 5 flats in the key signature (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭).

What is the relative key of D flat major?

Its relative key is B flat minor: they share the same notes and chords.