Skip to content
Chord & Fret

C13 on guitar

C13 on guitar — frets 0 0 0 3 1 0C1321EADBbCE
Frets: 0 0 0 3 1 0

On the guitar, six strings give the chord room to breathe — some positions use them all, others ask you to mute the lowest ones. In this position the bass is E and the shape runs from fret 1 to 3, ringing 4 open strings. Because this instrument has fewer strings than C13 has notes, one note — usually the fifth — is normally dropped without losing the chord's identity. Its hollow wooden body gives every chord a warm, natural ring that blooms and fades on its own.

Notes on C: C – E – G – Bb – D – F – AFormula: 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 – 9 – 11 – 13

In the formula, the numbers count steps of the major scale starting from the note that names the chord; "b" lowers a half step, "#" raises one — and a slash names the bass note.

Where to use it: An elegant dominant in jazz, MPB and gospel.

This is just one shape of C13 on guitar. In Chord & Fret, you hear every shape strummed string by string, in the instrument's own voice; compare positions with their difficulty marked; and change the tuning — the shape rewrites itself. Start free. Unlock everything with Pro. 100% offline.

Unlock in Chord & Fret →

Part of the Extended family.

See the full explanation of C13 →