C#13 Guitar Chord | How to Play The C# Dominant Thirteen Chord
Welcome to our tutorial on the C# 13 chord, a member of the Dominant Chords family. This chord is a rich, complex sound that can add a touch of sophistication to your guitar playing. The C# 13 chord is composed of the notes C#, E#, G#, B, D#, F#, and A#, which are built from the intervals 1 (Root), 3 (Major Third), 5 (Perfect Fifth), b7 (Minor Seventh), 9 (Major Ninth), 11 (Perfect Eleventh), and 13 (Major Thirteenth).
If you're not familiar with these terms, don't worry! We have a tutorial about fretboard intervals that can help you understand these concepts. You might also find our tutorial on how to denote chords based on their intervals useful.
In this tutorial, we will provide you with chord diagrams and fretboard patterns that show the tones composing the C# 13 chord. This will help you visualize and understand how the chord is constructed on the fretboard. If you're interested in learning more about how chords are built, our tutorial that teaches how to build chords by stacking intervals is a great resource.
As a part of the Dominant Chords family, the C# 13 chord is often used in jazz and blues music. If you're interested in these genres, you might want to check out our tutorial about jazz chord progressions and our tutorial about dominant (7) guitar chords.
Whether you're a beginner looking to expand your chord vocabulary or an advanced player wanting to delve into more complex chords, the C# 13 chord is a great addition to your repertoire. We hope you find this tutorial helpful and encourage you to explore our other guitar chord tutorials for further learning.
C# 13 chord Notes:
How the Dominant Thirteen chord is built:
Guitar Patterns for the C#13 chord
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If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.
You can also use this accessible chords page with written diagrams instruction.
Position 1
Barre
Movable
Position 2
Barre
Movable
Position 3
Barre
Movable
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FAQ
What notes make up the C#13 chord?
The C#13 chord is composed of seven distinct notes: C# (root), E# (major third), G# (perfect fifth), B (minor seventh), D# (major ninth), F# (perfect eleventh), and A# (major thirteenth). These notes are built by stacking specific intervals from the C# root.
Why is the C#13 considered a 'dominant' chord?
The C#13 chord is categorized as a dominant chord because it contains the crucial minor seventh interval (B in this case), along with the root (C#) and major third (E#). This specific combination of intervals, even with added extensions like the 9th, 11th, and 13th, gives it the characteristic harmonic tension and pull associated with dominant chords.
How do the intervals 1, 3, 5, b7, 9, 11, and 13 relate to the C#13 chord?
These numbers represent the specific intervals built from the root note C# that form the C#13 chord. '1' is the root (C#), '3' is the major third (E#), '5' is the perfect fifth (G#), 'b7' is the minor seventh (B), '9' is the major ninth (D#), '11' is the perfect eleventh (F#), and '13' is the major thirteenth (A#). Each interval adds a layer to the chord's overall sound.
Why does a C#13 chord have so many notes compared to simpler chords?
The C#13 chord is a highly extended chord, meaning it builds upon a basic dominant seventh chord by adding further intervals. It includes the major ninth, perfect eleventh, and major thirteenth intervals stacked on top of the root, third, fifth, and minor seventh, resulting in a chord with up to seven distinct notes that contribute to its rich and complex sound.
In which musical genres is the C#13 chord typically used?
The C#13 chord, being a sophisticated dominant chord, is often used in jazz and blues music. Its rich and complex sound adds harmonic depth and color, making it a valuable addition to chord progressions in these genres.
Do I need to play all seven notes of the C#13 chord on the guitar?
While the C#13 chord technically consists of seven notes, it's often impractical or impossible to play all of them simultaneously on a standard six-string guitar. Guitarists typically choose specific voicings that emphasize the most characteristic intervals (like the root, 3rd, b7, and 13th) to capture the chord's essential sound, sometimes omitting the 5th or 11th to create clear and playable shapes.