Easy Ways To Play The D13 Guitar Chord
Welcome to our tutorial on the D 13 chord, a complex and rich sounding chord that belongs to the family of Dominant Chords. The D 13 chord is composed of seven distinct notes: D, F#, A, C, E, G, and B. These notes are built from a combination of specific musical intervals: 1 (Root), 3 (Major Third), 5 (Perfect Fifth), b7 (Minor Seventh), 9 (Major Ninth), 11 (Perfect Eleventh), and 13 (Major Thirteenth).
This tutorial will guide you through the process of playing the D 13 chord, with the aid of chord diagrams and fretboard patterns to visually represent the tones that compose the chord. If you are new to the concept of intervals and would like to understand how they are stacked to build chords, we recommend you to check out our tutorial on guitar music theory.
Understanding the D 13 chord is an exciting step forward in your guitar learning journey. It's a chord that is more complex than the basic major and minor chords, and is often found in genres like jazz and blues. For more information on how to denote chords based on the intervals that compose them, our tutorial on chord notation might be of interest.
The D 13 chord is a part of the dominant (7) guitar chords family, which are commonly used in many musical styles for their tension-filled sound. As you become familiar with the D 13 chord, you might also want to explore other related chords like the ninth (9) guitar chords or the sixth (6) guitar chords.
As you delve deeper into the world of advanced guitar chords, remember to practice regularly and listen carefully to the unique sounds each chord creates. Happy strumming!
Notes that compose the D 13 chord:
Tones of the Dominant Thirteen chord:
D13 Guitar Chord Diagrams
Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams.
If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.
You can also use this accessible chords page with written diagrams instruction.
Position 1
Movable
Position 2
Movable
Position 3
Open
Position 4
Barre
Movable
Position 5
Barre
Movable
Position 6
Barre
Movable
Position 7
Barre
Movable
Position 8
Barre
Open
Position 9
Barre
Movable
Position 10
Barre
Movable
Position 11
Barre
Movable
Position 12
Barre
Movable
Position 13
Barre
Movable
You can find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
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FAQ
What are the specific notes and intervals that make up a D 13 guitar chord?
The D 13 chord is built on the root note D and includes seven distinct notes: D, F#, A, C, E, G, and B. These correspond to the intervals of Root (1), Major Third (3), Perfect Fifth (5), Minor Seventh (b7), Major Ninth (9), Perfect Eleventh (11), and Major Thirteenth (13) respectively.
Why is the D 13 chord considered a 'dominant chord' and what does '13' signify?
The D 13 chord is part of the Dominant Chord family primarily because it includes a minor seventh (b7) interval (C in the key of D), which creates a characteristic tension. The '13' signifies that the chord includes extensions up to the Major Thirteenth interval (B), along with the Major Ninth (E) and Perfect Eleventh (G), making it a rich and complex voicing beyond a standard dominant seventh.
How does the D 13 chord achieve its 'tension-filled sound'?
The tension in a D 13 chord comes from the combination of its specific intervals, particularly the minor seventh (b7) and the extended tones like the ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth. These intervals, especially when voiced together, create harmonic clashes or 'dissonances' that contribute to its characteristic tension and desire to resolve.
Does a D 13 chord always require playing all seven of its notes on the guitar?
While the D 13 chord is theoretically composed of seven distinct notes, it is often impractical or impossible to play all of them simultaneously on the guitar. Guitarists frequently omit certain notes (like the 5th or 11th) while ensuring the crucial defining intervals (Root, 3rd, b7th, 13th, and often the 9th) are present to retain the chord's essential quality and sound.
In what musical genres or contexts is the D 13 chord typically used?
The D 13 chord is a sophisticated voicing often found in genres that utilize advanced harmonies, such as jazz and blues. Its rich and tension-filled sound makes it suitable for creating complex harmonic progressions, particularly as a dominant chord leading to a resolution, or for adding color and depth to a chord progression.
What is the key difference between a D 13 chord and simpler dominant chords like a D7?
The primary difference lies in the added extended intervals. A D7 chord includes the Root, Major Third, Perfect Fifth, and Minor Seventh (D, F#, A, C). A D 13 chord builds upon this by adding the Major Ninth (E), Perfect Eleventh (G), and Major Thirteenth (B). These additional notes significantly enhance the chord's richness, complexity, and harmonic tension, offering a much fuller sound than a D7.