Piano chord
E♭13E flat thirteenth
- E♭1
- G3
- B♭5
- D♭♭7
- F9
- C13
- Notes
- 6
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 21semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-2-5
How to play E♭13 on piano
- Find E♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play E♭ with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on G, 2 on D♭, 5 on C.
- Leave out B♭, F: 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 · E♭ – G – B♭ – D♭ – F – C
1st inversion · G – B♭ – D♭ – F – C – E♭
2nd inversion · B♭ – D♭ – F – C – E♭ – G
3rd inversion · D♭ – F – C – E♭ – G – B♭
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
E♭13 inversions
E♭13 can be played in 4 positions. In root position E♭ is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: E♭E♭ – G – B♭ – D♭ – F – C
- 1st inversionbass: GG – B♭ – D♭ – F – C – E♭
- 2nd inversionbass: B♭B♭ – D♭ – F – C – E♭ – G
- 3rd inversionbass: D♭D♭ – F – C – E♭ – G – B♭
E♭13 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays E♭, the right hand plays the colour notes G–D♭–C. Notes that can be left out are left out.
E♭13 on other instruments
On guitar and ukulele E♭13 is usually simplified; you will find it on the root pages.
About the E♭13 chord
E flat thirteenth has 6 notes: E♭ (1), G (3), B♭ (5), D♭ (♭7), F (9), C (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 E♭ and add the other notes above it: E♭ – G – B♭ – D♭ – F – C. From the lowest to the highest key that is 21 semitones. It is too wide for one hand: play E♭ with the left hand and the rest with the right.
Each inversion of E♭13 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is G (G–B♭–D♭–F–C–E♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is B♭ (B♭–D♭–F–C–E♭–G). In the 3rd inversion the bass is D♭ (D♭–F–C–E♭–G–B♭).
E♭13 is E♭9 with one note added: C.
Questions
What notes are in the E♭13 chord?
E♭13 (E flat thirteenth) has 6 notes: E♭ (1), G (3), B♭ (5), D♭ (♭7), F (9), C (13).
How many inversions does E♭13 have?
E♭13 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (E♭–G–B♭–D♭–F–C); 1st inversion (G–B♭–D♭–F–C–E♭); 2nd inversion (B♭–D♭–F–C–E♭–G); 3rd inversion (D♭–F–C–E♭–G–B♭).
What is the difference between E♭13 and E♭9?
E♭13 is E♭9 with one note added: C.
Can I play E♭13 with one hand?
In root position E♭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.