B thirteenth, flat nine

B13(♭9)

Also written B13b9

NotesB · D♯ · F♯ · A · C · G♯
Formula1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · ♭9 · 13
B1A♭7C♭9D♯3F♯5G♯13
All its notes, from the root

♭9 (C) and 13 (G♯) together — the half-whole diminished dominant. The 13, ♭9 and 3 make an A♭ major triad, so it is played as A♭ over B7.

How pianists voice B13(♭9)

Nobody plays a jazz chord in root position. These are the shapes that actually get played — the same ones Cadenza shows when you play the chord.

Shell Left hand

B1A♭7D♯3

1 · 3 · ♭7 — root, 3rd and 7th: the three notes that say what the chord is. Left hand, low; everything else is colour.

Rootless A From the 3rd

A♭7C♭9D♯3G♯13

3 · 13 · ♭7 · ♭9 — no root: the bass player has it. The left-hand voicing of modern jazz piano.

Rootless B From the 7th

A♭7C♭9D♯3G♯13

♭7 · ♭9 · 3 · 13 — the other half of the pair. A and B alternate through a ii–V–I so the hand barely moves.

Drop 2 Two hands

B1A♭7G♯13D♯3

13 · 1 · 3 · ♭7 — close position with the second voice from the top dropped an octave: wider, warmer, the standard for chord melody.

Upper structure VI Triad over shell

B1A♭7C♭9D♯3D♯3G♯13

1 · 3 · ♭7 · ♭9 · 3 · 13 — an A♭ major triad in the right hand (13, ♭9 and 3) over the root, 3rd and ♭7 in the left. One familiar shape, all the tension.

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