D♭ minor 6th chord

Playing it

On guitar, D♭m6 has an open-position shape, x42320, using four fingers alongside the open strings. Don’t strum the low E string.

On piano, D♭m6 has three black keys (D♭, A♭ and B♭) and one white key.

On ukulele the usual D♭m6 shape is 3101, using three fingers.

Related chords

D♭m6 contains exactly the same notes as B♭m7♭5. Which name fits depends on which note is in the bass and what key you’re in.

Move a single note and D♭m6 becomes a different chord: drop the B♭ for D♭m, raise B♭ to C♭ for D♭m7, raise F♭ to F for D♭6 and lower A♭ to A𝄫 for D♭dim7.

Where you’ll hear it

Notice the F♭ in D♭m6 (D♭ F♭ A♭ B♭): each note of the chord takes its own letter (D–F–A–B), so the minor 3rd has to be written F♭ rather than E — the same key on a piano, spelled to fit the chord.