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Bb13 Guitar Chord

Bb13 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
Bb13Guitar fingering diagram for Bb13Fret 67891×234×STRING6ªA#5ª×4ªG#3ªD2ªG1ª×
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What sets Bb13 apart

The notes of Bb13 are Bb, D, F, Ab, C and G. Bb is the root, D the major third, F the fifth, Ab the minor seventh, C the ninth and G the thirteenth. Said aloud, its notes are B flat, D, F, A flat, C and G.

String by string, low to high, it plays Bb, Ab, D and G. This shape drops two chord tones, F and C. They are the fifth and ninth. It runs from Bb on string 6 up to G on string 2.

Bb13 uses no barre and no open strings, so you can slide the shape up the neck without changing fingers. Strings 5 and 1 stay silent. Your hand covers three frets, from 6 to 8. There is one more position, starting at fret 1.

Inside Bb13 sits a complete Gm chord, made of Bb, D and G. Eb shares one position with this shape.

Bb13 belongs to only one key, Eb major, where it is the V13.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01Bb Bb - Gm - Cm - F702Dm Dm - Bb - Gm - A7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Bb13)

Formula: Bb13 (1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 - 9 - 13)
Constituent chord intervals:

Bb 1D 3F 5Ab ♭7C 9G 13

Root Bass (Fundamental String)6th String (Low E) • Fret 6 (Bb)

String Control (Muted & Active)4 / 6 • 2 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Bb13:

01

position 6

Standard Position
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 6Finger 1
BbDegree 1
5th String (A)
×Muted
Do not play
4th String (D)
Fret 6Finger 2
AbDegree ♭7
3rd String (G)
Fret 7Finger 3
DDegree 3
2nd String (B)
Fret 8Finger 4
GDegree 13
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 6 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 6 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 7 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 8 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 5th String (A), 1st String (High E).

02

position 1

Barre fret 1
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 1Finger 1
BbDegree 1
4th String (D)
○Open
DDegree 3
3rd String (G)
Fret 1Barre
AbDegree ♭7
2nd String (B)
Fret 1Barre
CDegree 9
1st String (High E)
Fret 3Finger 4
GDegree 13

Placement tip: Barre fret 1. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 3 with your Pinky finger. Play open: 4th String (D). Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Bb13)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets6 to 8
Fretting fingers4
Opennone
Muted5th and 1st

What to check

The 5th string stays muted between strings that ring.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Bb13

Listen: Bb13 → Eb · Dm · Bb

  1. Bb13
  2. Eb
  3. Bb13
  4. Dm
  5. Bb13
  6. Bb
Bb13 → Eb01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position
Stay in place
  • string 2, fret 8
Move
  • string 5, fret 6
  • string 4, fret 8
  • string 3, fret 8
  • string 1, fret 6
Bb13 → Dm02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 3 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 2: string 3, fret 2
  • finger 3: string 2, fret 3
  • finger 1: string 1, fret 1
Bb13 → Bb03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • string 5, fret 1
  • string 4, fret 3
  • string 3, fret 3
  • string 2, fret 3
  • string 1, fret 1

Bb13 in every key

Bb13 sits in the scale of 1 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
3/5
Highest fret
8
Frets the hand covers
3
Barre
No
Strings that ring
4/6
Fretting fingers
4

Major keys

Bb13 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Bb13)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Bb13 chord?

To play the Bb13 chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 6 to string 2. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the Bb13 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Bb13 chord is its root note: Bb. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 6 at fret 6.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Bb13 chord and what is its formula?

The Bb13 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 - 9 - 13 formula (Bb13). Its constituent pitches are Bb, D, F, Ab, C, G.

How do you prevent the Bb13 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Bb13 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Bb13 chord diagram

Bb13 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

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