D Minor Thirteenth Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
D Minor Thirteenth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: D, F, A, C, E, B
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 7m, 9M, 13M
Formula: WH-2W-WH-2W-7
Number of notes: 6
Also known as: m13, -13
The D Minor Thirteenth arpeggio contains 6 notes (D, F, A, C, E, B). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the D Minor Thirteenth Arpeggio
Play the D Minor Thirteenth arpeggio whenever a D Minor Thirteenth chord appears in a progression. Unlike scales (which include passing tones), arpeggios guarantee every note you play IS a chord tone, making your solo sound harmonically precise and intentional.
Arpeggio vs. Scale
The D Minor Thirteenth arpeggio uses 6 notes (D, F, A, C, E, B) while the full scale uses 7. The arpeggio is a subset — think of it as the skeleton of the scale. Practice alternating between the arpeggio and the full scale to develop a melodic vocabulary that mixes chord tones with passing tones.
How to Play D Minor Thirteenth Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate D on the A string at fret 5. Span the 6 notes (D, F, A, C, E, B) across two to three strings using one finger per fret. Focus on even tone production between plucked strings and smooth position shifts.
The D Minor Thirteenth arpeggio outlines a D minor chord and fits naturally over Dm, Dm7, Dm6 voicings. Use it to bring out the darker, expressive quality of minor harmony in your solos and melodies.
Practice Routine
Practice the D Minor Thirteenth arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the F an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 3m, 5P, 7m, 9M, 13M) in any register.
Bass Tips
On bass, use the D Minor Thirteenth arpeggio as the skeleton for your bass lines. Target the root on beat 1, then use the other tones (F, A, C, E, B) on weaker beats to create movement while keeping the harmonic foundation solid.