How to play Cm13: a minor 13th built on C, with 1 voicing, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is one possible voicing: played at the first few frets. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 3 1 3 1 5 (x = not played).
| Note | C | Eb | Bb | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | b3 | b7 | 13 |
Cm13 is a minor 13th with C as its root. The full theoretical spelling is C, Eb, G, Bb, D, F, A. This voicing omits the 5th and 9th and 11th, the tones guitarists drop first when fitting a chord onto six strings. A note on 13th chords: the root, 3rd, 7th, and 13th are generally considered sufficient in practice, although the technical definition spells the 9th and 11th as part of the chord too.
Cm13 is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 1 major key and 1 minor key. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.
All tools are free with no download. Customize the fingering, print it, or drop it straight into a chart.
🤲 Play Cm13 a way we don't show? Suggest your voicing and it may join the library (with a thank-you in your inbox).
Cm13 is spelled C, Eb, G, Bb, D, F, A: the root, minor 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th. The common guitar voicing sounds C, Eb, Bb, A, leaving out the 5th and 9th and 11th.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 3 1 3 1 5 (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 1st fret from the D string to the B string (a barre). Add the A and G strings at the 3rd fret. Add the high E string at the 5th fret. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.
Cm13 belongs to 2 keys: Bb major (the ii chord) and G minor (the iv).
