Published:
2013-01-01
Updated:
2019-04-02
Learning Ukulele with Curt
Chord a Day, March 22nd - C13
Learn a new Ukulele chord every day of the year. The chord for March 22nd is C13.
Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Code: ULCAD0322
Main Category: Chords Main Instrument: Ukulele
Subjects: Chords
2019-04-02
Learn a new Ukulele chord every day of the year. The chord for March 22nd is C13.
Core 4-part
, a.k.a. Jazz
Chords
Today's chord, C13 is one of, or based on one of, the
Big Six Core Jazz
chords
for creating your 4-part, contemporary chord foundation and
Life Beyond the Third Fret.
Learn a New Chord Each Day!!!
This Learn a New Chord Each Day!!! series of lessons was created and published in 2013 (13 yrs ago) and has been added to an expanded ever since. 2020 brought videos to the show. 2023 introduced more Harmonic information
For a further exploration of this chord and its movable forms visit the
Movable Ukulele Chords Lesson Series
page.
Chord Type(s): Major 7-part
Chord Categories: Movable Form
Open Position chords typically do not show the location of the root or letter name of the chord, as these chords are the first chords a ukulele player learns. They are almost entirely learned by shape and sound–hopefully, the chord names. Later on, one develops the ability to determine the location of the chord root(s) or letter name within the chord.
Standard Music Notation and TAB
Standard music notation and TAB for C Tuning, Low and High G
variations
The same numbering notation used in TAB can be used to describe the open strings and frets to be played when using text-only notation or verbal communications. Using an open position C as an example, we can describe it as 0003, indicating open strings four, three, and two with fret (3) being fingered on string one. An open position, D7 , indicated as 2020
As you can see that are numerous ways to describe a chord, either verbally Put your finger here…
, in Standard Music Notation
, TAB
, and in text, graphically using a Chord Grid
, etc.
Derived From
Today's chord, C13 is a derived chord from C7 . Take any chord progression with C7 in it and explore substituting C13 for C7.
Chord Spelling
Chord Spelling is simply knowing what the notes, the chord tones of a chord are.
The notes of all chords can be determined from its corresponding major scale based on the root of the chord and numeric formula.
The notes for C13 are:
C E G Bb D (F) A
The chord tones are the 1 3 5 b7 9 11 13 scale degrees of the parent C Major Scale .
Additional Information
C13 is a movable version of the open position A7 with the root on string one, with a raised root to a ninth and a raised fifth to the thirteenth.Recommended Fingering(s)
Although additional fingerings are possible for many chords, fingering for any given chord depends on the science of how our fingers work and on the harmonic context the chord is being used in—what was the previous chord, and what's the next chord? The goal is to play all the notes right behind the frets when possible. Remember, longer fingers can reach the lower strings better, and finger two can stack on finger three, and finger three can stack on finger four.
Although you can play any chord with any finger as long as it's yours, the recommended fingering for C13 is:
Recommended Fingering
1 2 3 4
Alternate Fingering(s)
Here are a few alternate fingerings for today’s C13 chord depending on the context the chord is being used.
Alternate fingering(s) for C13:
- - 1 2 3 3
Fingering Notation
Fingering notation for a chord using text only, without using a chord grid, is typically done using the finger numbers from left to right, string four to string one (nose to toes). Here is the text notation for January 1st C chord.
A Typical text representation of a chord fingering without using a chord grid.
Note: A Zero (0) fingering notation represents an open string that doesn't require using a finger.
Fingering Chords
Additional alternate fingerings might be possible for selected chords. If there isn't an overwhelming musical reason for one fingering over another, let efficiency be the determining factor. Something as simple as longer fingers that can reach the lower strings four and three will go a long way to being efficient when switching chords.
Factors such as playing notes right behind the fret take less effort than in the middle of the fret. Less effort leads to overall efficiency; lower maintenance for maintaining your technique and efficiency leads to speed. This can help in determining what finger to use. Finger three can overlap finger four, and finger two can overlap finger three a little, allowing them to get closer to the fret.
Remember, the thumb's primary role is to support the fingers–not play notes. Think of the thumb as a Stagehand. He is unseen, doesn't get any lines, but is a critical member of the team. There are musical situations where you might use your thumb but they are mainly rhythmic / strumming reasons.
Chord Construction, Notes and Intervals
All chords can be constructed based on their intervals relative to the major scale of the root or letter name of the chord. The individual names of the notes of the chord can also be determined from the same scale.
The chord tones for C13 are: C E G Bb D (F) A
C13 is the 1 3 5 b7 9 11 13 of the C Major Scale based on the root (C) of the chord.
7th (pronounced Seventh)
A partial seventh chord can be created by lowering the Root of a major triad two frets.
A seventh chord as a 4-part chord ( 1 3 5 b7 ) and one of the Big Six core chords used to derive other contemporary and jazz chords.
A Seventh chord along with your basic major and minor chords are the most common chord you will encounter.
NOTE: A Seventh chord is very often referred to as a Dominant Seventh . This is not always accurate as Dominant — is a chord function and not actually part of a chord name, which is a capital letter and chord type information – not it's harmonic function. We don't call a seventh functioning as a I (one) chord in a Blues a Tonic Seventh or the IV (four) chord a Sub-Dominant Seventh chord, etc...
13th Chords
13th chords apply to seventh chords (1 3 5 b7). A 13th chord is technically a 7-part chord. The 1 3 5 b7 9 11 and 13 of a major scale. The ninth is a common optional chord tone. The eleventh, optional as well but not as common.
To get this voicing start with a basic 7th chord and raise the root to the ninth and raise the fifth to the thirteenth.
A really cool voicing of a ninth is 3 b7 9 13. This contains all the color tones of the chord.
Next Steps
After memorizing today's C13 chord and when you are able to switch in time with other chords, the next step is adding various Strums , Fingerpicking patterns, and exploring the Movable Chord versions of today's chord, to your ukulele skills.