C Dominant 13th Guitar Chord (C13)

C Dominant 13th (C13) is built from C, E, G, Bb, D, A, which is the 1P - 3M - 5P - 7m - 9M - 13M formula measured from the root C. This page shows 42 fingerings with fretboard diagrams.

7th
Notes: C · E · G · Bb · D · AIntervals: 1P – 3M – 5P – 7m – 9M – 13M

Fingerings for C13

C13low E at fret 4, A at fret 3, G at fret 3
C13low E at fret 4, A at fret 3, D at fret 3, G at fret 3
C13low E at fret 2, B at fret 2, high E at fret 2
C13low E at fret 2, G at fret 3, B at fret 2, high E at fret 2
C13A at fret 3, D at fret 3, G at fret 2
C13low E at fret 2, G at fret 3, B at fret 4, high E at fret 2
C13A at fret 3, D at fret 3, G at fret 2, B at fret 3
C13low E at fret 2, B at fret 2, high E at fret 4
C13low E at fret 2, G at fret 3, B at fret 2, high E at fret 4
C13A at fret 3, D at fret 3, G at fret 2, high E at fret 3
C13low E at fret 2, G at fret 3, B at fret 4, high E at fret 4
C13low E at fret 1, A at fret 3, D at fret 3, G at fret 2, B at fret 3, high E at fret 3
C13low E at fret 4, A at fret 3, D at fret 3, high E muted
C13low E at fret 4, A at fret 3, G at fret 3, high E muted
C13low E at fret 4, A at fret 3, D at fret 3, G muted
C13low E at fret 2, B muted, high E at fret 2
C13low E at fret 2, A muted, B at fret 2, high E at fret 2
C13low E at fret 2, A muted, B at fret 2, high E at fret 4
C13low E at fret 1, A muted, D at fret 3, G at fret 2, B at fret 3, high E at fret 3
C13low E muted, A at fret 3, D at fret 2, B at fret 1
C13low E muted, A at fret 2, B at fret 2, high E at fret 2
C13low E muted, D at fret 3, G at fret 3
C13low E muted, D at fret 3, G at fret 3, B at fret 3
C13low E muted, A at fret 2, B at fret 2, high E at fret 4
C13low E muted, D at fret 3, G at fret 3, high E at fret 3
C13low E at fret 4, A at fret 3, B muted, high E muted
C13low E at fret 1, A muted, D at fret 3, G at fret 2, B at fret 3, high E muted
C13low E at fret 2, A muted, B muted, high E at fret 2
C13low E muted, A at fret 3, D at fret 2, G at fret 2, B at fret 1, high E muted
C13low E muted, A at fret 3, D at fret 2, G at fret 2, B muted, high E open
C13low E muted, A at fret 3, D muted, G at fret 2, B at fret 1, high E open
C13low E muted, A at fret 2, B muted, high E at fret 2
C13low E muted, A at fret 1, D muted, G at fret 3, B at fret 3, high E at fret 3
C13low E muted, A muted, D at fret 3, G at fret 2
C13low E muted, A muted, D at fret 3, G at fret 2, B at fret 3, high E at fret 1
C13low E muted, A muted, D at fret 3, G at fret 2, B at fret 1, high E at fret 3
C13low E muted, A muted, D at fret 2, G at fret 1, B at fret 2, high E at fret 2
C13low E muted, A muted, G at fret 3
C13low E muted, A muted, D at fret 2, G at fret 1, B at fret 2, high E at fret 4
C13low E muted, A muted, G at fret 3, high E at fret 3
C13low E muted, A muted, D at fret 1, G at fret 3, B at fret 4, high E at fret 3
C13low E muted, A muted, G at fret 3, high E muted

Notes in C13

  • C1P
  • E3M
  • G5P
  • Bb7m
  • D9M
  • A13M

How to play C13

C Dominant 13th Guitar Chord (C13) is tense and unresolved, which is what makes it want to move.

Beginner tip

Mute the strings you do not play — a dominant seventh with a ringing open string loses its pull.

Practice idea

Resolve it down a fifth to the tonic and listen for the tension release.

C13 FAQ

What notes are in C Dominant 13th?
C Dominant 13th (C13) contains C, E, G, Bb, D, A. In interval terms that is 1P - 3M - 5P - 7m - 9M - 13M above the root C.
How do you play C13 on guitar?
The most common shape here is "C13": low E at fret 4, A at fret 3, G at fret 3.
Is C13 hard for beginners?
It sits in the seventh family. Mute the strings you do not play — a dominant seventh with a ringing open string loses its pull.