Play and Understand the C13b9 Guitar Chord

C 13(b9) position 3 guitar chord diagram

The C13(b9) chord, also read as C thirteenth flat nine, is spelled C, E, G, Bb, Db, F and A: a root, a major third, a perfect fifth, a minor seventh, a flat ninth, an eleventh and a thirteenth.

One voicing is listed for this root, from fret 8 to fret 10, and it uses no open string. Try the C Half-Whole scale over it: built from alternating half and whole steps, it holds every chord tone except the eleventh.

Press play in the player at the top of the page to hear C13(b9) strummed, then picked as an arpeggio.

C 13th with flat 9th guitar chord is also written as C13(b9), C13b9 or C13-9.

C13(b9) Chord Notes and Formula

Notes in the C 13(b9) chord:

C E G Bb Db F A

How the Dominant Thirteen Flat Nine chord is built:

Formula: 1 3 5 b7 b9 11 13

C13(b9) Chord Interactive Fretboard

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Go to the full guitar chords tutorial.

C13(b9) Guitar Chord Diagrams

Position 1 Movable

C 13(b9) position 3 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the A string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 8 of the D string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 9 of the G string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 9 of the high E string
  • Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 10 of the B string

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Chords That Go With C13(b9)

One key where C13(b9) fits is F major, where it works as the V chord, an altered chord whose Db is borrowed from outside the key. These are the main chords of that key, the ones you will often hear around it:

I · F ii · Gm iii · Am IV · Bb V · C vi · Dm

See every key in the guitar keys chart, or build a progression with these chords in the chord progression generator.

More C Chords

C Cm C7 Cm7 Cmaj7 Csus4 Csus2 Cadd9 Cdim C9 C13(#11) C13#5 C13(#9) C6/9

Want to know how this chord is built? Read dominant chords explained, or browse all C guitar chords.

Play This Chord With Other Roots

C 13(b9) | D 13(b9) | E 13(b9) | F 13(b9) | G 13(b9) | A 13(b9) | B 13(b9) | C#13(b9) | D#13(b9) | F#13(b9) | G#13(b9) | A#13(b9) | Ab13(b9) | Bb13(b9) | Db13(b9) | Eb13(b9) | Gb13(b9)

Giancarlo Facoetti, founder of FaChords Guitar

Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher

FAQ

What are the notes of C13(b9)?

C13(b9) is spelled C, E, G, Bb, Db, F and A. It stacks a major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, flat ninth, eleventh and thirteenth over C.

How many ways are there to play C13(b9)?

There is one valid voicing for C13(b9), with no open strings and no barre. It spans frets 8 to 10.

Which scale goes with C13(b9)?

The C half-whole scale spells C, Db, D#, E, F#, G, A and Bb. It has every chord tone except the eleventh, F.

What does the 13 in C13(b9) add?

The 13 is the note A, the major sixth raised an octave. Together with the Bb it marks the chord as a dominant thirteenth, and the Db makes it tense.