D♭ Major Triads on Guitar: Every Inversion on Every String Set
A D♭ major triad is D♭, F and A♭ (1 3 5). It has three arrangements, root position, first inversion and second inversion, and each can be played on four groups of three strings: all twelve shapes are below.
Keys
CAGED Chords — D♭
Triads — D♭
Root position
First inversion
Second inversion
All inversions
The notes of D♭
D♭ major is a major third (four frets) with a minor third (three frets) on top. Root position puts D♭ at the bottom (D♭, F and A♭); first inversion puts F at the bottom (F, A♭ and D♭); second inversion puts A♭ at the bottom (A♭, D♭ and F).
It's the same pitch as C; this page uses D♭ because it's spelled with fewer sharps or flats.
D♭ on every string set
On the low E, A and D strings: root position at frets 6–9, first inversion at frets 11–13 and second inversion at frets 3–4.
On the A, D and G strings: root position at frets 1–4, first inversion at frets 6–8 and second inversion at frets 10–11.
On the D, G and B strings: root position at frets 9–11, first inversion at frets 1–3 and second inversion at fret 6.
On the G, B and high e strings: root position at frets 4–6, first inversion at frets 9–10 and second inversion at frets 1–2.
Where the inversions sit in the CAGED shapes
The practice pad above shows D♭'s triads inside each CAGED shape. Use the R, 2, 3 and V switches to see each arrangement:
- Root position: C shape (fret 1), A shape (fret 4), G shape (fret 6) and E shape (fret 9).
- First inversion: C shape (fret 1), G shape (fret 6) and E shape (fret 9).
- Second inversion: C shape (fret 1), A shape (fret 6) and E shape (fret 10).
Where D♭ appears
D♭ belongs to 8 keys: I in D♭ major, V in F major and IV in A♭ major; VII in E♭ minor, VI in F minor and III in B♭ minor; VI in F harmonic minor and V in F harmonic minor.
None of them is one of the open-string guitar keys (C, G, D, A, E and their relative minors), so D♭ is more often met in piano-led songs, horn arrangements and with a capo.
Open strings and capo options for D♭
No open string is a note of D♭, so every voicing on this page is fully fretted and there's nothing to let ring.
To get an open-sounding voicing, use a capo: the C shape with the capo at fret 1, the A shape with the capo at fret 4 and the G shape with the capo at fret 6.
Closely related chords
The closest chords to D♭ share two of its three notes: its relative minor and the chords a fourth and a fifth away, which are its neighbours in D♭ major.
D♭ triad FAQs
What notes are in a D♭ major triad?
D♭, F and A♭. The formula is 1 3 5.
What is the first inversion of D♭?
F, A♭ and D♭, with F in the bass. On the G, B and high e strings it sits at fret 10, fret 9 and fret 9.
How many D♭ triad shapes are there?
Twelve to learn: root position and two inversions on each of the four three-string sets. They repeat twelve frets higher.
Related
Learn more
How to use guitar triads explains inversions and how to use them in rhythm parts and solos, and triads on all string sets goes through each set in turn. The triad library has every chord.