C Dominant Seventh Flat Thirteen Added Guitar Chord Fingering

What notes are in C7(b13) (C seventh flat thirteen)? C, E, G, Bb and Ab: a root, a major third, a perfect fifth, a minor seventh and a flat thirteenth. The Ab is the same pitch as G#, the sharp fifth, though this chord keeps the natural fifth G as well.

In this spelling the flat thirteenth is Ab, a minor sixth above the root, enharmonic with a sharp fifth. Every tone of C7(b13) sits inside the C Phrygian Dominant scale, the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale, so it is a natural pool of notes for lines over the chord.

Like any dominant seventh, it resolves most naturally to a chord a fourth above C, and a minor chord there is a common target.

C 7th with flat 13th guitar chord is also written as C7(b13), C7b13 or C7-13.

C7(b13) Chord Notes and Formula

Notes that compose the C 7(b13) chord:

C E G Bb Ab

Chord structure of the Dominant Seventh Flat Thirteen Added chord:

Formula: 1 3 5 #5 b7

C 7(B13) Chord Interactive Fretboard

Want a structured chord roadmap instead of jumping between pages?
Go to the full guitar chords tutorial.

download this tutorial in pdf Download the Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf

Chords That Go With C7(b13)

One key where C7(b13) fits is F major, where it works as the V chord. 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 C7(b9) C7(#11) C7#5 C7#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 7(b13) | D 7(b13) | E 7(b13) | F 7(b13) | G 7(b13) | A 7(b13) | B 7(b13) | C#7(b13) | D#7(b13) | F#7(b13) | G#7(b13) | A#7(b13) | Ab7(b13) | Bb7(b13) | Db7(b13) | Eb7(b13) | Gb7(b13)

Want to Learn Everything About Chords?

Check Chords Domination out: a unique ebook that shows you finger positions, note names and intervals in the chords (plus a tones fretboard maps)

You'll learn how to play 44 chords types across all the fretboard, with many voicings and fingerings

In the ebook you can also find maps show you the tones in a chord all along the fretboard. They are incredibly helpful because allow you to:

Create new voicings on the fly, across all the neck
Improvise targeting the right notes
Unlock the fretboard and expand the CAGED system.

In the new ebook, Chords Domination, you'll find the fretboard tones maps for 44 different qualities of chords. Check it out:

Download Free Excerpt Learn More Here

Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

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

FAQ

What notes does C7(b13) contain?

C, E, G, Bb and Ab. The first four make a C seventh chord, and Ab is the flat thirteenth, a minor sixth from the root one octave up.

Is the Ab in C7(b13) the same pitch as G#?

Yes. Ab sounds like G#, the raised fifth, but in this chord it is named Ab because it is a lowered thirteenth. The natural fifth G is also in the chord, only a half step lower.

Which scale fits the C seventh flat thirteen chord?

The C Mixolydian b6 scale, spelled C, D, E, F, G, Ab and Bb, contains all five chord tones. It is the fifth mode of F melodic minor.

How does C7(b13) differ from a plain C7?

A plain C7 has C, E, G and Bb. C7(b13) adds Ab, which lies a half step higher than the fifth G. That small gap gives the chord a darker, more tense colour.

Where does C7(b13) usually lead?

A dominant seventh tends to resolve up a fourth, so C7(b13) leads to F. The flat thirteenth suits a resolution to F minor.