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Guitar chords · Major 13th

Fmaj13 chord on guitar

Fmaj13 (F major 13th) has six notes: F, A, C, E, G and D, the , 3, 5, 7, 9 and 13.

Shapes

How to play Fmaj13

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Fmaj13 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 1 or the A shape at fret 8. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • E shape · fret 1

    ××R7313FEAD
  • A shape · fret 8

    8fr××R7313FEAD
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Fmaj13 major 13th

A major 13th chord stacks the 13th on a major , for a lush, wide sound that ends many jazz tunes. Play the , 3rd, 7th and 13th: the 5th and 9th are optional, and the 11th is left out because it clashes with the 3rd.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.
  • 11Left out: players skip it because it clashes.

The 3rd, the 7th and the 13th make Fmaj13 a major 13th chord; you can leave out the 5th and the 9th. The 11th is left out: it clashes with the 3rd.

  1. FRroot
  2. A3essential
  3. C5optional
  4. E7essential
  5. G9optional
  6. D13essential
EADGBE0135791215FFFFFFFFFEGACDEGACDEGACDEGACDEGACDEGACDEGACDEGACDEG
  • F, the root
  • Other chord tones

Keys

Keys with Fmaj13

Fmaj13 belongs to four keys: C major (IVmaj13), F major (Imaj13), A minor (VImaj13) and D minor (IIImaj13).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Slash chords

Fmaj13 over another bass note

A keeps Fmaj13 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Fmaj13/A

    Fmaj13 with its 3rd, A, in the bass.

  • Fmaj13/C

    Fmaj13 with its 5th, C, in the bass.

  • Fmaj13/E

    Fmaj13 with its 7th, E, in the bass.

Questions

Fmaj13, in short

What notes are in the Fmaj13 chord?
Fmaj13 (F major 13th) has six notes: F, A, C, E, G and D, the , 3, 5, 7, 9 and 13.
How do you play Fmaj13 on guitar?
Fmaj13 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 1 or the A shape at fret 8.
What key is Fmaj13 in?
Fmaj13 belongs to four keys: C major (IVmaj13), F major (Imaj13), A minor (VImaj13) and D minor (IIImaj13).
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