Bb 13(b9) Guitar Chord | Learn, Play, and Master Interactively
The complex Bb 13(b9) chord belongs to the Dominant Chords family, often found in advanced jazz and contemporary arrangements. It’s built from seven notes: Bb, D, F, Ab, Cb, Eb, and G, corresponding to the intervals Root (1), Major Third (3), Perfect Fifth (5), Minor Seventh (b7), Minor Ninth (b9), Perfect Eleventh (11), and Major Thirteenth (13). Use the interactive fretboard tool at the top of this page to visualize every fingering, listen to the chord played as a strum or arpeggio, and check your own playing with real-time microphone feedback.
This intricate chord adds a sophisticated, jazzy flavor, often used to create tension and resolution in chord progressions. Its extended structure, especially the altered ninth, gives it a distinct character. To fully grasp its theoretical foundation, explore our guide on Chord Construction. For players encountering challenges with its extended shapes, particularly those requiring full fretboard coverage, our tutorial on Guitar Bar Chords can provide invaluable tips. Understanding the role of the altered Ninth Chords is key to mastering this voicing, and further insight into how different voicings affect the sound can be found in our resource on Understanding Chord Inversions.
Below, you'll discover a comprehensive guide including detailed chord diagrams, arranged from the most accessible open positions to more challenging movable shapes. We'll also dive deeper into its music theory, list popular songs that feature the Bb 13(b9) chord, and identify the keys where it commonly appears. Before you explore these static resources, take a moment to engage with the interactive tool above. Strum the chord, listen closely, and let the microphone feedback guide your hand placement. This active learning approach is the most effective way to integrate new chords into your playing, building both muscle memory and musical intuition.
Notes in the Bb 13(b9) chord:
How the Dominant Thirteen Flat Nine chord is built:
How To Play The Bb Dominant Thirteen Flat Nine chord on guitar
Position 1
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FAQ
What makes the Bb 13(b9) chord part of the 'Dominant Chords' family?
The Bb 13(b9) chord is a dominant chord because its fundamental structure includes a root, major third, and minor seventh (1, 3, b7). This minor seventh interval (Ab in this case) is characteristic of dominant chords, creating a sense of tension that typically seeks resolution.
Why does the Bb 13(b9) chord contain so many notes like Bb, D, F, Ab, Cb, Eb, and G?
This chord is a highly 'extended' dominant chord. It includes the basic dominant 7th (1, 3, 5, b7) and then further extensions: a minor ninth (b9), a perfect eleventh (11), and a major thirteenth (13). Each of these intervals adds another note to the chord's full theoretical composition, making it complex.
What do the 'b9' and '13' in the Bb 13(b9) chord name refer to?
The 'b9' signifies a minor ninth interval, which is a half-step lower than a natural ninth. The '13' refers to a major thirteenth interval. Both are upper extensions added to a dominant seventh chord (which already includes the root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh).
How does the note 'Cb' fit into the Bb 13(b9) chord, and is it the same as a B natural?
Cb is the minor ninth (b9) interval above the root Bb. While Cb is enharmonically equivalent to B natural on the fretboard, it is notated as Cb in this chord to correctly represent its specific function as a flatted ninth relative to the root Bb, adhering to standard music theory principles for chord construction.
Why is the Bb 13(b9) chord described as being 'often found in jazz' music?
The Bb 13(b9) chord's complex and extended nature, incorporating the b9, 11, and 13 intervals, provides a rich, colorful, and often dissonant sound. This harmonic complexity and the tension it creates are highly valued and frequently utilized in jazz chord progressions to add unique flavor and depth.