Piano chord
C13C thirteenth
- C1
- E3
- G5
- B♭♭7
- D9
- A13
- Notes
- 6
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 21semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-2-5
How to play C13 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.
C13 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on C; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: CC – E – G – B♭ – D – A
- 1st inversionbass: EE – G – B♭ – D – A – C
- 2nd inversionbass: GG – B♭ – D – A – C – E
- 3rd inversionbass: B♭B♭ – D – A – C – E – G
C13 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.
C13 on other instruments
On guitar and ukulele C13 is usually simplified; you will find it on the root pages.
About the C13 chord
To build C thirteenth, take these 6 notes from the root up: 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.
The keys are C – E – G – B♭ – D – A, counted up from C; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 21 semitones. Few hands reach that far, so share C13 between both hands, with C in the left.
In the inversions of C13 the root moves up and another note takes the bass. 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).
Compared with C9, C13 has one more note, A.
Questions
What notes are in the C13 chord?
C13 (C thirteenth) has 6 notes: C (1), E (3), G (5), B♭ (♭7), D (9), A (13).
How many inversions does C13 have?
C13 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 C13 and C9?
Compared with C9, C13 has one more note, A.
Can I play C13 with one hand?
In root position C13 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.