Chords
F Major seventh flat sixth
F · A · Db · E
F Major seventh flat sixth (Fmaj7b6) is a major chord of 4 notes: F · A · Db · E.
Also written FM7b6 · F^7b6
F Major seventh flat sixth
F · A · Db · E
Voicings on the piano
| Voicing | Notes | Play it on your instrument |
|---|---|---|
| Closed, root position | F3 · A3 · Db4 · E4 | |
| Open (drop 2) | Db3 · F3 · A3 · E4 | |
| Shell | F3 · A3 · E4 | |
| Rootless | A3 · Db4 · E4 |
Tap a key or a fret to hear it.
Anatomy
F Major seventh flat sixth (Fmaj7b6) contains the notes F · A · Db · E, each with a role measured as an interval from the root.
Read on: how triads are built · seventh chords
Inversions
An inversion of F Major seventh flat sixth puts a chord tone other than F in the bass; the name after the slash is that bass note.
Where it lives
The keys and the scales F Major seventh flat sixth belongs to.
In which keys
F Major seventh flat sixth is diatonic to 1 key; the numeral is its degree and the label its harmonic function.
- D minorIIImaj7b6Tonic
Scales that contain it
F Major seventh flat sixth fits inside these scales, each built on F.
- F Harmonic MajorF · G · A · Bb · C · Db · E
- F AugmentedF · G# · A · C · C# · E
- F Double Harmonic LydianF · Gb · A · B · C · Db · E
- F Lydian AugmentedF · G · A · B · C# · D · E
- F Augmented HeptatonicF · G# · A · Bb · C · C# · E
- F Leading Whole ToneF · G · A · B · C# · Eb · E
- F Double Harmonic MajorF · Gb · A · Bb · C · Db · E
- F PersianF · Gb · A · Bb · Cb · Db · E
Understanding the F Major seventh flat sixth chord
Names and symbols
Fmaj7b6 is the chord symbol for F Major seventh flat sixth; it is also written FM7b6, F^7b6.
maj7, M7, Δ7, ma7 and ^7 all mean the major seventh. A lowercase m7 is a different chord, the minor seventh, so the capital letter and the triangle are the only things keeping the two apart on a chart.
Common questions
- What notes are in the F Major seventh flat sixth chord?
- The F Major seventh flat sixth chord contains the notes F · A · Db · E: the root F with the intervals 1P, 3M, 6m, 7M stacked above it. Play them together for the chord or one after another for an arpeggio. The lowest note is normally F, but any chord tone can take the bass in an inversion.
- What intervals make up the F Major seventh flat sixth chord?
- Measured from F, the F Major seventh flat sixth chord stacks the intervals 1P, 3M, 6m, 7M. The quality of the third and of the seventh, if there is one, is what gives the chord its character; the rest of the notes colour it. Every interval in the formula links to its own page, with its sound.
- How do I play the F Major seventh flat sixth chord?
- On guitar the most common F Major seventh flat sixth shape is 102220, read from the lowest string to the highest; the instrument panel above shows several more with their fingerings. On piano play F3 · A3 · Db4 · E4 with the right hand, or move the root down into the left hand and keep the rest above it. Every shape on this page plays when you press it.