Piano chord
B♭13B flat thirteenth
- B♭1
- D3
- F5
- A♭♭7
- C9
- G13
- Notes
- 6
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 21semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-2-5
How to play B♭13 on piano
- Find B♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play B♭ with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on D, 2 on A♭, 5 on G.
- Leave out F, C: the chord is still recognisable without it, and the hand stays relaxed.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · B♭ – D – F – A♭ – C – G
1st inversion · D – F – A♭ – C – G – B♭
2nd inversion · F – A♭ – C – G – B♭ – D
3rd inversion · A♭ – C – G – B♭ – D – F
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
B♭13 inversions
B♭13 can be played in 4 positions. In root position B♭ is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: B♭B♭ – D – F – A♭ – C – G
- 1st inversionbass: DD – F – A♭ – C – G – B♭
- 2nd inversionbass: FF – A♭ – C – G – B♭ – D
- 3rd inversionbass: A♭A♭ – C – G – B♭ – D – F
B♭13 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays B♭, the right hand plays the colour notes D–A♭–G. Notes that can be left out are left out.
B♭13 on other instruments
On guitar and ukulele B♭13 is usually simplified; you will find it on the root pages.
About the B♭13 chord
B flat thirteenth has 6 notes: B♭ (1), D (3), F (5), A♭ (♭7), C (9), G (13). A dominant thirteenth: a seventh chord with the thirteenth on top, often with the ninth. Pianists usually play the root, third, seventh and thirteenth.
On the keyboard, start from B♭ and add the other notes above it: B♭ – D – F – A♭ – C – G. From the lowest to the highest key that is 21 semitones. It is too wide for one hand: play B♭ with the left hand and the rest with the right.
Each inversion of B♭13 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is D (D–F–A♭–C–G–B♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is F (F–A♭–C–G–B♭–D). In the 3rd inversion the bass is A♭ (A♭–C–G–B♭–D–F).
B♭13 is B♭9 with one note added: G.
Questions
What notes are in the B♭13 chord?
B♭13 (B flat thirteenth) has 6 notes: B♭ (1), D (3), F (5), A♭ (♭7), C (9), G (13).
How many inversions does B♭13 have?
B♭13 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (B♭–D–F–A♭–C–G); 1st inversion (D–F–A♭–C–G–B♭); 2nd inversion (F–A♭–C–G–B♭–D); 3rd inversion (A♭–C–G–B♭–D–F).
What is the difference between B♭13 and B♭9?
B♭13 is B♭9 with one note added: G.
Can I play B♭13 with one hand?
In root position B♭13 spans 21 semitones, more than an octave. Play the root with the left hand and the upper notes with the right, or leave out the fifth.