Guitar chord Gb13(b9) - diagrams and theory

Gb 13(b9) guitar chord shapes

Written with flats, Gb13(b9) (Gb thirteenth flat nine) contains Gb, Bb, Db, Fb, Abb, Cb and Eb.

It sounds identical to F#13(b9), the same chord under a different spelling. The Abb is the flat ninth and sounds like G, a half step above the root. The Gb Half-Whole scale contains every chord tone except the eleventh.

The major third Bb and the minor seventh Fb sit a tritone apart, which is the engine of every dominant chord. Counted from the root Gb, the symbol adds a flat ninth and a thirteenth to the dominant seventh.

Gb 13th with flat 9th guitar chord is also written as Gb13(b9), Gb13b9 or Gb13-9.

Notes that compose the Gb 13(b9) chord:

Gb Bb Db Fb Abb Cb Eb

Chord Formula:

1
b2
2
b3
3
4
b5
5
#5
6
b7
7
8
b9
9
#9
11
#11
13

Play This Chord With Other Roots

C 13(b9) | D 13(b9) | E 13(b9) | F 13(b9) | G 13(b9) | A 13(b9) | B 13(b9) | C#13(b9) | D#13(b9) | F#13(b9) | G#13(b9) | A#13(b9) | Ab13(b9) | Bb13(b9) | Db13(b9) | Eb13(b9) | Gb13(b9)

Giancarlo Facoetti, founder of FaChords Guitar

Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher

FAQ

What are the notes of Gb13(b9)?

Gb13(b9) is Gb, Bb, Db, Fb, Abb, Cb and Eb. It stacks a major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, flat ninth, eleventh and thirteenth on Gb.

Why is Gb13(b9) spelled with Abb?

Counting nine letters up from Gb lands on A, and the major ninth is Ab. Lowering it gives Abb, which equals G in sound but names the flat ninth correctly.

Is Gb13(b9) the same as F#13(b9)?

Yes. F#13(b9) spells the same pitches F#, A#, C#, E, G, B and D#, so they sound alike and differ only in how the notes are written.

Which scale fits Gb13(b9)?

The Gb half-whole scale includes every chord tone except the eleventh, Cb. It gives you the flat ninth along with the thirteenth, Eb.