Altered Thirteenth Chords

Lesson 37/184 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Guitar Chord Manual

Altered Thirteenth Chords

Chord names don’t go any higher than a 13th. If you add another 3rd interval above the 13th degree, it takes you back to the root note of the chord. You can create many more variations on 13th chords and other extended chords by using various combinations of alterations to the 5ths and 9ths of the chords.

Now you know how to create all the various chord types, it is recommended that you make a habit of experimenting with alterations every time you practice. When and where they work best depends on the musical context.

Two of most common altered thirteenth chords are the 13# ⁹ and the 13b⁹. These are the following two chords to be demonstrated.

Thirteenth Sharp Nine

The following diagrams show a 13#9 chord shape which has two names. The first two diagrams show how it works as an F13#9 and the third and fourth diagrams demonstrate the same shape as a B13#9.

Practice moving it around the key cycle (up and down the fretboard) visualizing the root note on the 1st string, and then on the 5th string. Soon you will be able to quickly find it in any key without having to move more than a couple of frets. This should be your eventual aim with all chord types

F^13#9

B^13#9

Experiment with various fret positions when playing this progression. There are several different ways it can be played. Experiment with the formula to find other voicings as well.

Thirteenth Flat Nine

Here are some common voicings for 13b9 chords. None of these voicings contains the root note, but it can be added to each of them if you wish. Experiment with the formula to come up with your own voicings.

F^13b9

B^13b9

Ab^13b9

C^13b9

Remember that any chord can be played as an arpeggio, thus opening up other fingering possibilities. You can move around between the notes of a chord in any order or using any rhythm that sounds good in whatever musical context you are playing in.

Some of the greatest recorded guitar parts are based on a simple repeating rhythm pattern applied to one or two chords. The following example demonstrates this concept applied to an E13b9 chord.

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Peter Gelling and Gary Turner

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1- INTRODUCTION 2- Triads 3- Inversions of Four Note Chords 4- C Major Scale Up to the 13th Degree 5- The Major Scale 6- 12 Bar Blues 7- Electronic Tuner 8- Open Chords 9- Open Chords 10- Omitting Notes From Chords 11- Sharps and Flats 12- Turnaround Progressions 13- What is a Chord 14- Chord Progressions 15- Movable Chords 16- Open Chords 17- The Chromatic Scale 18- Chord Substitution 19- Chord Diagrams 20- Rhythm Patterns 21- Open Chords 22- Movable Chords 23- More about Major Scales 24- Turnaround Chord Substitution 25- Chord Symbols and Alternatives 26- Rhythm Notation 27- Movable Chords 28- Open Chords 29- The F Major Scale 30- Substitution and Context 31- How to Read Sheet Music 32- Arpeggios 33- Open Chords 34- Movable Chords 35- Keys and Key Signatures 36- Triad over Root Substitutions 37- Easy Chord Table 38- Bar Chords 39- Movable Chords 40- Open Chords 41- The Key Cycle 42- Using 7th Chords to Create 9ths 43- How to Read Music 44- Root 6 Bar Chords 45- Open Chords 46- Movable Chords 47- Major Scales in all Keys 48- Substitutions in Minor Keys 49- Music Notation 50- Notes on the Sixth String 51- Movable Chords 52- Open Chords 53- Intervals 54- Secondary Dominants 55- Rhythm Symbols 56- Percussive Strumming 57- Seventh Chord Types 58- Movable Chords 59- Interval Distances 60- Tritone Substitution 61- Rhythm Notation 62- Root 5 Bar Chords 63- Open Chords 64- Open Chords 65- Finding Intervals on the Fretboard 66- The II V I Progression 67- Time Signatures 68- Notes on the Fifth String 69- Movable Chords 70- Movable Chords 71- Identifying Intervals by Ear 72- I Becomes II 73- Chord Construction 74- Learning the Whole Fretboard 75- Open Chords 76- Open Chords 77- Power Chords 78- Memorizing Chord Progressions 79- Chord Formula Chart 80- Notes on the Guitar Fretboard 81- Movable Chords 82- Movable Chords 83- Chords Using 4ths 84- Modulation 85- Transposing 86- Notes in More Than One Place 87- Open Chords 88- Open Chords 89- Chord Construction Using 90- V Becomes II 91- How to Transpose 92- Higher and Lower Octaves of Notes 93- Movable Chords 94- Movable Chords 95- Scale Tone Chords 96- Learning Songs 97- The Capo 98- Movable Chord Shapes in Five Forms 99- Open Chords 100- Open Chords 101- Major Key Triad Pattern 102- Listening 103- Three Note Chord Voicings 104- Movable Chords 105- Movable Chords 106- Scale Tone Chords Along The Strings 107- Altered Chords Chart 108- Inversions 109- Open Chords 110- Open Chords 111- Primary Chords 112- Tuning Your Guitar 113- Using Inversions 114- Movable Chords 115- Movable Chords 116- Harmonizing Melodies 117- Movable Inversions 118- Open Chords 119- Open Chords 120- Common Progressions 121- Open Voicings 122- Four Chords in One 123- Movable Chords 124- Scale Tone 7th Chords 125- Four Note Voicings 126- Open Chords 127- Open Chords 128- Scale Tone 7th Pattern 129- Movable Chords (Four Note Voicings) 130- Movable Chords 131- Movable Chords 132- Extended Scale Tone Chords 133- Open Chords 134- Open Chords 135- Open Chords 136- Voice Leading 137- Bar Chords 138- Movable Chords 139- Movable Chords 140- Guide Tones 141- Movable Minor Chords 142- Open Chords 143- Open Chords 144- Using Guide Tones 145- Movable Inversions 146- Movable Chords 147- Movable Chords 148- Other Guide Tones 149- Movable Minor Chords (4 Note Voicings) 150- Extended Sharp Eleven Chords 151- Minor Keys and Scales 152- Open Chords 153- Open Chords 154- The Natural Minor Scale 155- Bar Chords 156- Movable Chords 157- The Harmonic Minor Scale 158- Movable Chords 159- Open Chords 160- The Melodic Minor Scale 161- Open Chords 162- Movable Chords 163- Minor Key Scale Tone Triads 164- Movable Chords 165- Open Chords 166- Minor Key Chord Progressions 167- Open Chords 168- Movable Chords 169- Scale Tone 7ths in Minor Keys 170- Three Chords in One 171- Altered Thirteenth Chords 172- Higher Extensions in Minor Keys 173- Movable Chords 174- Creating Your Own Chords 175- Relative Keys 176- Diminished Triad Shapes 177- Moving Chords Over One Symbol 178- Slash Chords 179- Pedal Tones 180- Moving Bass Lines Under a Chord 181- Chords with More Than One Name 182- Modes 183- Harmonizing Modes 184- Modes in Minor Keys

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Altered Thirteenth Chords