D# Dominant Thirteenth Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
D# Dominant Thirteenth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: D#, G, A#, C#, F, C
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7m, 9M, 13M
Formula: 2W-WH-WH-2W-7
Number of notes: 6
Also known as: 13
The D# Dominant Thirteenth arpeggio contains 6 notes (D#, G, A#, C#, F, C). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the D# Dominant Thirteenth Arpeggio
Play the D# Dominant Thirteenth arpeggio whenever a D# Dominant 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# Dominant Thirteenth arpeggio uses 6 notes (D#, G, A#, C#, F, C) 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# Dominant Thirteenth Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate D# on the A string at fret 6. Span the 6 notes (D#, G, A#, C#, F, C) across two to three strings using one finger per fret. Focus on even tone production between plucked strings and smooth position shifts.
The D# Dominant Thirteenth arpeggio outlines a dominant seventh chord, creating the tension that wants to resolve. Use it over D#7, D#9, D#13 chords, especially in blues, funk, and jazz where dominant harmony drives the groove.
Practice Routine
Play the D# Dominant Thirteenth arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on D#. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 6 notes (D#, G, A#, C#, F, C). After a few passes, begin improvising short melodic phrases built from these arpeggio tones, connecting them with passing notes.
Bass Tips
On bass, use the D# Dominant Thirteenth arpeggio as the skeleton for your bass lines. Target the root on beat 1, then use the other tones (G, A#, C#, F, C) on weaker beats to create movement while keeping the harmonic foundation solid.