Piano chord
C♯13C sharp thirteenth
- C♯1
- E♯3
- G♯5
- B♭7
- D♯9
- A♯13
- Notes
- 6
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 21semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-2-5
How to play C♯13 on piano
- Find C♯: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play C♯ with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on E♯, 2 on B, 5 on A♯.
- Leave out G♯, D♯: 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 · C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ – A♯
1st inversion · E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ – A♯ – C♯
2nd inversion · G♯ – B – D♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E♯
3rd inversion · B – D♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E♯ – G♯
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
C♯13 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of C♯13. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has C♯ at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: C♯C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ – A♯
- 1st inversionbass: E♯E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ – A♯ – C♯
- 2nd inversionbass: G♯G♯ – B – D♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E♯
- 3rd inversionbass: BB – D♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E♯ – G♯
C♯13 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays C♯, the right hand plays the colour notes E♯–B–A♯. Notes that can be left out are left out.
C♯13 on other instruments
On guitar and ukulele C♯13 is usually simplified; you will find it on the root pages.
About the C♯13 chord
The 6 notes of C sharp thirteenth are C♯ (1), E♯ (3), G♯ (5), B (♭7), D♯ (9), A♯ (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.
Put your thumb on C♯ and count up: C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ – A♯. The whole chord spans 21 semitones from bottom to top. That is wider than an octave, so most pianists split C♯13: C♯ in the left hand, the upper notes in the right.
The inversions of C♯13 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is E♯ (E♯–G♯–B–D♯–A♯–C♯). In the 2nd inversion the bass is G♯ (G♯–B–D♯–A♯–C♯–E♯). In the 3rd inversion the bass is B (B–D♯–A♯–C♯–E♯–G♯).
Add A♯ to C♯9 and you have C♯13.
Questions
What notes are in the C♯13 chord?
C♯13 (C sharp thirteenth) has 6 notes: C♯ (1), E♯ (3), G♯ (5), B (♭7), D♯ (9), A♯ (13).
How many inversions does C♯13 have?
C♯13 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (C♯–E♯–G♯–B–D♯–A♯); 1st inversion (E♯–G♯–B–D♯–A♯–C♯); 2nd inversion (G♯–B–D♯–A♯–C♯–E♯); 3rd inversion (B–D♯–A♯–C♯–E♯–G♯).
What is the difference between C♯13 and C♯9?
Add A♯ to C♯9 and you have C♯13.
Can I play C♯13 with one hand?
In root position C♯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.