Chord Shapes

Dominant 13th

Intervals (practical): 1-3-5-b7-9-13, with the 11 usually omitted. In voicings the root and 5th are often dropped, leaving 3-b7-9-13 as the basic shape. This is one of the most idiomatic dominant colours in big-band and small-group jazz: the 13 (equivalent to the 6) brings a warm, gospel-like brightness, and the 9 rounds out the top. Dominant 13 chords are particularly common on V chords in rhythm changes, blues turnarounds and standards where the melody or arrangement emphasises 13. They resolve naturally to I or vi chords and are a staple sound in classic jazz endings (V13 to I6/9).