How to play C#maj13: a major 13th built on C#, 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 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: x 4 3 3 1 1 (x = not played).
| Note | C# | E# | B# | A# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | 7 | 13 |
C#maj13 is a major 13th with C# as its root. The full theoretical spelling is C#, E#, G#, B#, D#, F#, A#. 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.
C#maj13 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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C#maj13 is spelled C#, E#, G#, B#, D#, F#, A#: the root, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th. The common guitar voicing sounds C#, E#, B#, A#, leaving out the 5th and 9th and 11th.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 4 3 3 1 1 (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 1st fret from the B string to the high E string (a barre). Add the D and G strings at the 3rd fret. Add the A string at the 4th fret. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.
C#maj13 belongs to 2 keys: Db major (the I chord) and Bb minor (the III).
