How to play Amaj13: a major 13th built on A, with 1 voicing, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is one possible voicing: played at the first few frets. 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 4 1 2 x (x = not played).
| Note | A | C# | G# | F# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | 7 | 13 |
Amaj13 is a major 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.
Amaj13 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.
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Amaj13 is spelled A, C#, E, G#, B, D, F#: the root, 3rd, 5th, 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 4 1 2 x (x means the string is not played). Fret the G string at the 1st fret. Add the B string at the 2nd fret. Add the D string at the 4th fret. Add the low E string at the 5th fret. Strum from the low E string down, skipping the A and high E strings.
Amaj13 belongs to 2 keys: A major (the I chord) and F# minor (the III).
