Common Thirteenth Chord Patterns for Guitar and Piano Players

by

The thirteenth chord is a rich and complex harmony used frequently in jazz, blues, and modern music. Its distinctive sound adds depth and color to musical compositions. Both guitar and piano players can incorporate common thirteenth chord patterns to enhance their improvisation and songwriting skills.

Understanding the Thirteenth Chord

The thirteenth chord is built by stacking intervals of a seventh, ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth above the root note. It is essentially a dominant seventh chord with added extensions, creating a complex and colorful sound.

Basic Thirteenth Chord Structure

The most common thirteenth chord is the dominant thirteenth, often notated as 13. Its basic formula includes the root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth.

Common Guitar and Piano Patterns

  • Root Position 13th: Play the root, then add the seventh, ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth, either in a chord shape or arpeggiated.
  • Drop 2 Voicing: Drop the second highest note of a closed 13th chord to create a more playable and resonant voicing.
  • Shell Voicing: Play the root, seventh, and thirteenth to outline the chord effectively while leaving space for other instruments or voices.
  • Inversion Patterns: Use inversions to create smooth bass lines and voice leading, such as playing a 13th chord with the third in the bass.

Guitar Chord Shapes

Common guitar shapes for a C13 chord include:

  • Root position: X3(3)5(3)3(3)3
  • Drop 2 voicing: X3(3)2(2)3(3)3
  • Inversions: shifting fingers to emphasize different chord tones

Piano Voicings

Piano players often use voicings that emphasize the seventh and thirteenth, such as:

  • Root position: C – B♭ – A – E – A (root, seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth)
  • Inversion: E – A – B♭ – C – A or other variations

Practical Tips for Playing Thirteenth Chords

When incorporating thirteenth chords into your playing:

  • Focus on smooth voice leading between chords
  • Use inversions to make chords easier to play and to create melodic bass lines
  • Experiment with different voicings to find the most musical sound for your style
  • Combine chords with rhythmic patterns for a jazz or blues feel

Conclusion

Mastering common thirteenth chord patterns can greatly expand your harmonic vocabulary on guitar and piano. By practicing various voicings and progressions, you can add sophistication and richness to your musical arrangements.