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Bass chord companion

Eb13b9 Chord

Learn the Eb13b9 chord on bass with chord tones, intervals, playable arpeggios, and fretboard maps.

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1Eb3G5Bbb7Dbb9Fb13C

Bass chord tones and arpeggios

Play these tones one at a time to outline the chord. The maps show the complete formula; the numbered exercises give an ascending path, including extensions in their written octave.

Standard four-string bass: E1 – A1 – D2 – G2. String 4 is low E; string 1 is high G. Fingers 1–4 are index through little finger; 0 is open. Use comfortable hand positions and shift where indicated.

Root on E string

Eb 13b9 complete chord-tone map around string 4, fret 11. Choose individual tones for a bass line.

Eb 13b9 Root on E string bass chord-tone mapEb 13b9 complete chord-tone map around string 4, fret 11. Choose individual tones for a bass line.EADG10111213141b93513b71b93

Ascending arpeggio

Follow steps 1–6 below. This path uses 1 marked position shift.

Eb 13b9 Root on E string numbered bass arpeggioAscending complete formula: Eb2, G2, Bb2, Db3, Fb3, C4. Play one numbered note at a time.EADG1011121314151617123456
StepDegreeNoteString / fretFingerPosition
11Eb24 / 112Fret 10
23G23 / 101Fret 10
35Bb23 / 134Fret 10
4b7Db32 / 112Fret 10
5b9Fb32 / 141Shift to 14
613C41 / 174Fret 14

Root on A string

Eb 13b9 complete chord-tone map around string 3, fret 6. Choose individual tones for a bass line.

Eb 13b9 Root on A string bass chord-tone mapEb 13b9 complete chord-tone map around string 3, fret 6. Choose individual tones for a bass line.EADG56789513b71b93513b71b9

Ascending arpeggio

Follow steps 1–6 below. This path uses 2 marked position shifts.

Eb 13b9 Root on A string numbered bass arpeggioAscending complete formula: Eb2, G2, Bb2, Db3, Fb3, C4. Play one numbered note at a time.EADG67891011121314151617123456
StepDegreeNoteString / fretFingerPosition
11Eb23 / 61Fret 6
23G23 / 101Shift to 10
35Bb23 / 134Fret 10
4b7Db32 / 112Fret 10
5b9Fb32 / 141Shift to 14
613C41 / 174Fret 14

Full fretboard map

Every Eb13b9 Chord chord tone across the neck, with roots highlighted for quick orientation.

Interactive

Frets 0–24. Select a position or tap a note to hear it.

GDAFbGBbCDbEbFbGBbCDbEbFbBbCDbEbFbGBbCDbEbFbGEbFbGBbCDbEbFbGBbCDbBbCDbEbFbGBbCDbEbFbG123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Progression examples using Eb13b9

Try these progressions to hear the harmony in context. On bass, outline each chord with individual target tones.

V to I resolution

Use the dominant sound to pull strongly into a stable major tonic.

  1. V Eb13b9
  2. /I Ab Major

Minor-key dominant pull

The same dominant root can resolve into a minor tonic for a darker cadence.

  1. V Eb13b9
  2. /i Ab Minor

Chord Tones

DegreeIntervalNote
1RootEb
3M3G
5P5Bb
b7m7Db
b9m9Fb
13M13C

Scales Containing the Complete Formula

Complete Formula

1 – 3 – 5 – b7 – b9 – 13

Compound degrees retain their names: 9, 11, and 13 are extensions. A voicing may place their pitches in a closer register.

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