How to play Am13: a minor 13th built on A, with 1 voicing, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common voicing: played at the 5th fret. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: 5 x 5 5 7 x (x = not played).
| Note | A | C | G | F# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | b3 | b7 | 13 |
Am13 is a minor 13th with A as its root. The full theoretical spelling is A, C, E, G, B, D, F#. This voicing omits the 5th and 9th and 11th, the tones guitarists drop first when fitting a chord onto six strings. A note on 13th chords: the root, 3rd, 7th, and 13th are generally considered sufficient in practice, although the technical definition spells the 9th and 11th as part of the chord too.
Am13 is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 1 major key and 1 minor key. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.
All tools are free with no download. Customize the fingering, print it, or drop it straight into a chart.
🤲 Play Am13 a way we don't show? Suggest your voicing and it may join the library (with a thank-you in your inbox).
Am13 is spelled A, C, E, G, B, D, F#: the root, minor 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th. The common guitar voicing sounds A, C, G, F#, leaving out the 5th and 9th and 11th.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: 5 x 5 5 7 x (x means the string is not played). Fret the low E, D and G strings at the 5th fret. Add the B string at the 7th fret. Strum from the low E string down, skipping the A and high E strings.
Am13 belongs to 2 keys: G major (the ii chord) and E minor (the iv).
