Dominant thirteenth flat fifth guitar chord

“dominant thirteenth flat fifth” refers to a specific type of extended chord used in music, especially in jazz and contemporary styles. Let’s break down its components:

1. Dominant Quality: The term “dominant” indicates that this chord is built on the fifth degree of a given scale. In this context, it often refers to the dominant chord of a key, which has a major third and a minor seventh. Dominant chords are known for their strong, resolving quality, often leading to a tonic (root) chord.
2. Thirteenth (13): The “thirteenth” implies that this chord includes the root, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth notes of the scale. It’s an extended chord that goes beyond the basic triad (root, third, fifth) and seventh chord (root, third, fifth, seventh).
3. Flat Fifth (♭5): The “flat fifth” or “diminished fifth” is an altered or lowered fifth note in the chord. It takes the perfect fifth (the fifth note of the major scale) and lowers it by one half step (one semitone).

So, when you combine these elements, the “dominant thirteenth flat fifth” chord typically consists of the following intervals from the root note:

• Root (1)
• Major third (3)
• Diminished fifth (♭5)
• Minor seventh (♭7)
• Ninth (9)
• Eleventh (11)
• Thirteenth (13)

This results in a complex and colorful chord that adds tension and richness to music. It’s commonly used in jazz improvisation and as a colorful harmonic choice in various musical genres.

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