B Dominant 13th
B13
Notes
B · D# · F# · A · C# · G#
Intervals
- RootB (1P)
- Major 3rdD# (3M)
- Perfect 5thF# (5P)
- Minor 7thA (7m)
- Major 9thC# (9M)
- Major 13thG# (13M)
Fretboard
Adjust labels, frets, and palette in the interactive view.
About
The B13 dominant thirteenth (B–D♯–F♯–A–C♯–G♯) is the fullest expression of dominant harmony. The G♯ (a major sixth above the root) adds warmth and sophistication while the chord’s dominant function — driven by the tritone between 3 and ♭7 — remains intact, still pulling toward E. On guitar, full voicings are impractical; the essential tones are the 3rd, ♭7, and 13th. The 5th, 9th, and sometimes even the root can all be omitted in favor of these three. Common in jazz and funk comping. Compared to B9, the 13 adds a richer, more colorful top end without altering the harmonic direction.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- E Major (V)
- F♯ Melodic Minor (IV)
- B Mixolydian (I)
- A Lydian (II)
- F♯ Dorian (IV)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. Roman numeral marks the chord root’s position in the scale; dashed badges aren’t linked yet.