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C13 Chord on Guitar

C13 is the C dominant 13th chord — 6 notes (C, E, G, B♭, D, A) built from the formula 1 3 5 ♭7 9 13. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: C · E · G · B♭ · D · AFormula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9 · 13Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

C13: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • C13 – fret 3×R5♭7313fret 3
  • C13 – fret 55R9♭7R313fret 5
  • C13 – fret 77R3♭7913×fret 7
  • C13 – fret 88R5♭7313Rfret 8

C13: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • C13 – R-3-77R3♭7×××R-3-7
  • C13 – R-3-7×R3♭7××R-3-7
  • C13 – R-7-38R×♭73××R-7-3
  • C13 – R-7-3×R×♭73×R-7-3

Keys that contain C13

Scales to play over C13

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain C, E, G, B♭, D, A.

Other C chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Dominant 13th chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the C13 chord?
C13 (C dominant 13th) contains C, E, G, B♭, D, A — formula 1 3 5 ♭7 9 13.
How do you play C13 on guitar?
A common shape is x35355 (low E to high E, x = muted string, around fret 3). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with C13?
Good choices to solo over C13: C Mixolydian, C Lydian dominant.
What key is C13 in?
C13 is diatonic in F major (V13), D minor (♭VII13).