C Dominant 13th
C13
Notes
C · E · G · B♭ · D · A
Intervals
- RootC (1P)
- Major 3rdE (3M)
- Perfect 5thG (5P)
- Minor 7thB♭ (7m)
- Major 9thD (9M)
- Major 13thA (13M)
Fretboard
Adjust labels, frets, and palette in the interactive view.
About
The C13 dominant thirteenth (C–E–G–B♭–D–A) is the fullest expression of dominant harmony. The A (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 F. 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 C9, 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
- C Mixolydian (I)
- A Phrygian (III)
- B♭ Lydian (II)
- D Natural Minor (VII)
- E Locrian (VI)
- F Major (V)
- G Dorian (IV)
- G Melodic Minor (IV)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.