How to play G7b13: a dominant 7th flat 13 built on G, with 2 ways to play it, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common 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: 3 x 3 4 4 x (x = not played). Fingers: 1 x 2 3 4 x (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky, T thumb).
This fingering is one good option, not the only one. If another finger feels more comfortable for your hand, or sets up the chord before or after more easily, use it.
| Note | G | B | F | Eb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | b7 | b13 |
G7b13 is a dominant 7th flat 13 with G as its root. The full theoretical spelling is G, B, D, F, A, C, Eb. 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.
G7b13 is not a diatonic chord in any major or minor key: it turns up as a borrowed chord, a passing chord or an altered dominant, which is part of its color.
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G7b13 is spelled G, B, D, F, A, C, Eb: the root, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, 9th, 11th, flat 13th. The common guitar voicing sounds G, B, F, Eb, leaving out the 5th and 9th and 11th.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: 3 x 3 4 4 x (x means the string is not played). Fingers: 1 x 2 3 4 x (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky, T thumb). Put your 1st finger (index) on the low E string at the 3rd fret. Your 2nd finger (middle) goes on the D string at the 3rd fret. Your 3rd finger (ring) goes on the G string at the 4th fret. Your 4th finger (pinky) goes on the B string at the 4th fret. Strum from the low E string down, skipping the A and high E strings. The fingering is one good option; if another finger feels more comfortable or suits the chords around it, use that.
G7b13 is not a diatonic chord in any major or minor key: it turns up as a borrowed chord, a passing chord or an altered dominant, which is part of its color.
