D13 Ukulele Chord
D13 on ukulele is 5-2-2-2: barre the 2nd fret across the C, E and A strings with your index finger and put your little finger on the 5th fret of the g string. It is a barre shape, which feels awkward at first but is well worth learning.
- Notes: D, Gb, A, C, E, G and B
- Frets: 5 2 2 2
- Tuning: g C E A
D13 ukulele chord details
- Type
- Dominant 13th
- Also known as
- D thirteenth
- Formula
- 1 3 5 b7 9 11 13
- Intervals
- D (root), Gb (major 3rd), A (perfect 5th), C (minor 7th), E (major 9th), G (perfect 11th), B (major 13th)
- Notes
- D, Gb, A, C, E, G and B
- Frets
- 5 2 2 2
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the D13 chord
Here is the D13 chord step by step:
- Put your little finger on the 5th fret of the g string.
- Lay your index finger flat across the C, E and A strings at the 2nd fret, a small barre.
- 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 D13?
Not really. 5-2-2-2 is already the simplest playable shape for D13 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 D13 chord?
The D13 chord is built from seven notes: D, Gb, A, C, E, G and B (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.
Want to go further?
Once D13 feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try D7, Dmaj7, Dm and D. D13 pairs most often with G, A and Bm, 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.