The Db9 (D flat 9) chord contains the notes Db, F, Ab, Cb and Eb. It is produced by taking the 1 (root), 3, 5, b7 and 9 of the Db Major scale. The 9th note of the scale (Eb) is the same as the 2nd note, but we refer to it as a 9, as this implies that the chord is a dominant 7 chord (1, 3, 5, 7) with a 9 included.
The 9th chord is a very popular guitar chord in Jazz, Funk and Blues. It is in many ways, the go-to ‘funk’ chord. The 9th chord can often be substituted for a dominant 7 chord. Let’s take an example chord progression:
Try playing this chord progression. After a while, try substituting the Db7 chord for a Db9 chord. You should hear that the chord progression sounds very similar, but the inclusion of the Db9 chord gives the chord progression a jazzy sound.
The most common way to play Db9 is with the root note on the 4th fret of the 5th string (second shape in the pic below).
10 Ways To Play The Db9 Chord
If you’ve come to this page just to view some chord diagrams for Db9, here they are.
Some Quick Db9 Chord Theory
- The Db9 chord contains the notes Db, F, Ab, Cb and Eb.
- The Db9 chord is produced by taking the 1 (root), 3, 5, b7 and 9 of the Db Major scale.
- The 9th note of the Db Major scale (Cb) is the same as the 2nd note of the scale.
- The Db9 can be used as a substitute for the Db7 chord.
- The Db9 is essentially a Db dominant 7 chord with an added 9.
- The Db mixolydian mode can be used when soloing over the Db9 chord.
Further Reading
