How to Play a D#13 Chord on Guitar – Easy D# Dominant Thirteen Guitar Chord
Welcome to our tutorial on the D# 13 chord, a beautiful and complex chord that belongs to the Dominant Chords family. This chord is composed of the notes D#, F##, A#, C#, E#, G#, and B#, and is built using the intervals 1, 3, 5, b7, 9, 11, and 13. If you're new to the concept of intervals, you might want to check out our tutorial about fretboard intervals before diving into this lesson.
As you can see, the D# 13 chord is not a simple one. It includes a Root, a Major Third, a Perfect Fifth, a Minor Seventh, a Major Ninth, a Perfect Eleventh, and a Major Thirteenth. To understand how these intervals come together to form the chord, you might find our tutorial on building chords by stacking intervals useful.
As a member of the Dominant Chords family, the D# 13 chord often serves a specific function in music. To get a better understanding of this, you might want to take a look at our tutorial about dominant (7) guitar chords. This chord is an intermediate-level chord, so if you're looking for more advanced chords to add to your repertoire, you might also be interested in our intermediate guitar chord tutorial.
Throughout this tutorial, we'll be using chord diagrams and fretboard patterns to show you how to play the D# 13 chord. If you're not familiar with how to read these, our tutorial on chord notation might be helpful. We hope you enjoy learning about this beautiful and complex chord!
Notes of the D# 13 chord:
Tones in the Dominant Thirteen chord:
Guitar Patterns for the D#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 makes the D# 13 chord part of the Dominant Chords family?
The D# 13 chord is classified as dominant primarily because it contains a minor seventh (b7) interval, which in this specific chord is C#. This interval creates a characteristic harmonic tension that typically seeks to resolve to a tonic chord, driving the musical progression forward.
How are the specific notes D#, F##, A#, C#, E#, G#, and B# derived from the 13th chord intervals?
Starting from the root D#, each note corresponds to its respective interval: D# (Root), F## (Major Third), A# (Perfect Fifth), C# (Minor Seventh), E# (Major Ninth, which is a major second an octave up), G# (Perfect Eleventh, a perfect fourth an octave up), and B# (Major Thirteenth, a major sixth an octave up). These intervals are stacked to form the complete chord.
Do I need to play all seven notes of the D# 13 chord on the guitar?
On guitar, it's often impractical to play all seven notes of a 13th chord simultaneously due to the instrument's string limitations. Guitarists commonly omit certain notes, such as the perfect fifth (A#) and sometimes the perfect eleventh (G#), while ensuring the root, third, minor seventh, and the 9th and 13th extensions are present to maintain the chord's characteristic sound and color.
When would I typically use a D# 13 chord in music?
As a dominant chord, the D# 13 typically functions to create harmonic tension that leads to resolution. It most often appears as the V (five) chord in a progression, resolving to the I (one) chord of a key. For instance, a D# 13 might resolve to a G# Major or G# minor chord, adding a rich and sophisticated flavor to the harmony.
Why is the D# 13 chord considered an 'intermediate-level' chord for guitarists?
The D# 13 chord is categorized as intermediate due to its extensive number of notes and complex intervals, which go beyond basic triads and seventh chords. It requires a more developed understanding of music theory, including extended intervals like 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths, and often involves more challenging fingerings and a precise knowledge of note placement across the fretboard.