D-flat dominant seventh

Db7 Piano Voicings

Db7 is a dominant chord: the V that wants to resolve. Its flat seventh creates the tension at the heart of every ii-V-I, making Db7 one of the four core shapes to drill.

Drill Db7 in all 12 keys

The notes in Db7

  • Db R
  • F 3
  • Ab 5
  • Cb ♭7

Db7 voicings on piano

Each voicing is the exact shape the trainer drills. Press play to hear it — as a block chord or rolled note by note.

Root Position

Db · F · Ab · Cb R · 3 · 5 · ♭7

Shell Voicing

Db · F · Cb R · 3 · ♭7

Rootless A

F · Ab · Cb · Eb 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9

Rootless B

Cb · Eb · F · Ab ♭7 · 9 · 3 · 5

Where Db7 fits in a ii-V-I

Db7 is a dominant chord: the V that wants to resolve. Its flat seventh creates the tension at the heart of every ii-V-I, making Db7 one of the four core shapes to drill.

The fastest way to internalise Db7 is to drill it in context across all 12 keys until the shape is automatic.

Practice the full ii-V-I progression

Db7 — frequently asked questions

What notes are in Db7?

Db7 contains Db, F, Ab, Cb — root, major third, perfect fifth and flat seventh. The flat seventh is what makes it a dominant chord.

What is the shell voicing for Db7?

The Db7 shell voicing is root, third and flat seventh. The third and seventh — the guide tones — carry the dominant sound.

Why does Db7 sound unresolved?

The major third and flat seventh of Db7 form a tritone, an unstable interval that pulls strongly toward resolution.