B♭ seventh, flat thirteen

B♭7(♭13)

Also written A♯7(♭13) · B♭7(♭6) · Bb7b13

NotesB♭ · D · F · A♭ · G♭
Formula1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · ♭13
D3F5B♭1A♭♭7G♭♭13
All its notes, from the root

A dominant with a natural 5th and a ♭13 (G♭) above it — mixolydian ♭6, the V of E♭ minor. Drop the 5th and the same shape becomes B♭7(♯5).

How pianists voice B♭7(♭13)

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

D3B♭1A♭♭7

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

D3C9G♭♭13A♭♭7

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

Rootless B From the 7th

C9D3A♭♭7G♭♭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

D3G♭♭13B♭1A♭♭7

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

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