Dbm guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.
P - i - m - a · Classic Ascending (4/4 · 4 notes · Level 1)
The thumb plays C# on the 5th and the three top strings add up to 3 different notes. All 6 arpeggios
Steady bass with uniform ascending movement.
The notes of Dbm are Db, Fb and Ab. Db is the root, Fb the minor third and Ab the fifth. Said aloud, its notes are D flat, F flat and A flat.
From the low string to the high one you hear Db, Ab, Db, Fb and Ab. Db rings twice across the five strings, and it is the root. The lowest note is Db on string 5 and the highest is Ab on string 1.
The main Dbm shape needs a barre at fret 4 across five strings. String 6 is not played. Everything fits between frets 4 and 6. Besides the main one there are two more shapes, at frets 1 and 9.
Db is one change away. String 2 moves from fret 5 to fret 6, bringing in F, the major third of Db. Going to Abm, two positions stay the same. It can also be written C#m, and it sounds the same.
Dbm belongs to five keys. In E major it is the vi, in B major the ii and in A major the iii. The rest appear in the key list. Further down there is a song that uses it.
Db 1Fb ♭3Ab 5
Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 4 (Db)
String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted
Placement tip: Barre fret 4. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 6, 3rd String (G) at fret 6, 2nd String (B) at fret 5. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).
Placement tip: Barre fret 9. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 11, 4th String (D) at fret 11.
Placement tip: Press: 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 2 with your Ring finger. Play open: 1st String (High E). Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 5th String (A).
| Item | In this chord |
|---|---|
| Frets | 4 to 6 |
| Barre | fret 4, from the 5th to the 1st string |
| Fretting fingers | 4 |
| Open | none |
| Muted | 6th |
At fret 4, only the barre sounds the 5th and 1st strings.
Listen: Dbm → Abm · Ab · Eb7
Dbm sits in the scale of 5 keys.
Well-known songs where this chord plays a clear role
The questions that come up most when playing this chord
To play the Dbm chord on guitar, only 5 strings are played, from string 5 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.
The primary bass note of the Dbm chord is its root note: Db. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 4.
When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.
The Dbm chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - 5 formula (Minor Triad). Its constituent pitches are Db, Fb, Ab.
To prevent fret buzz on the Dbm barre chord, roll your index finger slightly outward (about 15 degrees) to press with its harder bony edge. Position your finger directly behind the fret wire and apply gentle arm pull from your back rather than squeezing with thumb force.
"Sonata Claro de Luna" (Ludwig van Beethoven, 1801). The home chord, the tonic of the song (C#m).
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