C13(b5b9) Dominant 7th

The C13(b5b9) chord is built from the notes C – E – Gb – Bb – Db – A.

Piano sound loads on first tap.

Chord tones, one by one

CRoot

Root

The fundamental note the chord is built on — C.

EThird

Major third

Four semitones — makes the chord major (brighter, happier).

GbFifth

Diminished fifth (♭5)

Six semitones — a flat fifth. Creates instability, typical of m7♭5 and diminished chords.

BbSeventh

Minor seventh (♭7)

Ten semitones — the dominant/minor seventh. Adds bluesy tension (7, m7).

DbExtension

Flat ninth (♭9)

A ♭9 — sharp, dissonant tension typical of altered dominant chords.

AExtension

Thirteenth (13)

A 13th — full, rich top extension.

🎼 Related scales

🎹 Modal analysis

This chord implies the Half-whole diminished scale; its characteristic note is the ♭9 / ♭2.

🎸 Genres

Bebop jazz · Hard bop · Gypsy jazz

13(b5b9) in every key

More C chords

More C chords from Half-whole diminished