Piano chord
D13D thirteenth
- D1
- F♯3
- A5
- C♭7
- E9
- B13
- Notes
- 6
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 21semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-2-5
How to play D13 on piano
- Find D: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play D with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on F♯, 2 on C, 5 on B.
- Leave out A, E: 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 · D – F♯ – A – C – E – B
1st inversion · F♯ – A – C – E – B – D
2nd inversion · A – C – E – B – D – F♯
3rd inversion · C – E – B – D – F♯ – A
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
D13 inversions
D13 can be played in 4 positions. In root position D is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: DD – F♯ – A – C – E – B
- 1st inversionbass: F♯F♯ – A – C – E – B – D
- 2nd inversionbass: AA – C – E – B – D – F♯
- 3rd inversionbass: CC – E – B – D – F♯ – A
D13 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays D, the right hand plays the colour notes F♯–C–B. Notes that can be left out are left out.
D13 on other instruments
On guitar and ukulele D13 is usually simplified; you will find it on the root pages.
About the D13 chord
D thirteenth has 6 notes: D (1), F♯ (3), A (5), C (♭7), E (9), B (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 D and add the other notes above it: D – F♯ – A – C – E – B. From the lowest to the highest key that is 21 semitones. It is too wide for one hand: play D with the left hand and the rest with the right.
Each inversion of D13 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is F♯ (F♯–A–C–E–B–D). In the 2nd inversion the bass is A (A–C–E–B–D–F♯). In the 3rd inversion the bass is C (C–E–B–D–F♯–A).
D13 is D9 with one note added: B.
Questions
What notes are in the D13 chord?
D13 (D thirteenth) has 6 notes: D (1), F♯ (3), A (5), C (♭7), E (9), B (13).
How many inversions does D13 have?
D13 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (D–F♯–A–C–E–B); 1st inversion (F♯–A–C–E–B–D); 2nd inversion (A–C–E–B–D–F♯); 3rd inversion (C–E–B–D–F♯–A).
What is the difference between D13 and D9?
D13 is D9 with one note added: B.
Can I play D13 with one hand?
In root position D13 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.