B13 Ukulele Chord
B13 on ukulele is 2-3-4-2: barre the 2nd fret across the g and A strings with your index finger, put your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the C string and your ring finger on the 4th fret of the E string. It is a barre shape, which feels awkward at first but is well worth learning.
- Notes: B, Eb, Gb, A, Db, E and Ab
- Frets: 2 3 4 2
- Tuning: g C E A
B13 ukulele chord details
- Type
- Dominant 13th
- Also known as
- B thirteenth
- Formula
- 1 3 5 b7 9 11 13
- Intervals
- B (root), Eb (major 3rd), Gb (perfect 5th), A (minor 7th), Db (major 9th), E (perfect 11th), Ab (major 13th)
- Notes
- B, Eb, Gb, A, Db, E and Ab
- Frets
- 2 3 4 2
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the B13 chord
Here is the B13 chord step by step:
- Lay your index finger flat across the g and A strings at the 2nd fret, a small barre.
- Put your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the C string.
- Put your ring finger on the 4th fret of the E string.
- Strum all four strings.
Roll your index finger slightly onto its bony side so it presses every string evenly. Read how to play bar chords if it keeps buzzing. New to these grids? Have a look at how to read a ukulele chord diagram.
Is there an easier way to play B13?
Not really. 2-3-4-2 is already the simplest playable shape for B13 on a ukulele; every alternative either needs more fingers or sits higher up the neck. If it still feels awkward, the tips above are the fix.
What notes are in the B13 chord?
The B13 chord is built from seven notes: B, Eb, Gb, A, Db, E and Ab (the root, major 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 7th, major 9th, perfect 11th and major 13th). That flat seventh makes a dominant 7th restless. It leans forward and wants to resolve to the next chord, which is why it turns up all over blues and folk. New to these? Have a read about seventh chords.
Ukulele songs that use the B13 chord
Want to go further?
Once B13 feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try B7, Bmaj7, Bm and B. B13 pairs most often with E, Gb and Abm, so the few basic chords next to it go a long way. When that feels good, work on switching between chords faster. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.