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Guitar chords · Major 13th

Gmaj13 chord on guitar

Gmaj13 (G major 13th) has six notes: G, B, D, F♯, A and E, the , 3, 5, 7, 9 and 13.

Shapes

How to play Gmaj13

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

Gmaj13 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 3 or the A shape at fret 10. 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 3

    3fr××R7313GF♯BE
  • A shape · fret 10

    10fr××R7313GF♯BE
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Gmaj13 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 Gmaj13 a major 13th chord; you can leave out the 5th and the 9th. The 11th is left out: it clashes with the 3rd.

  1. GRroot
  2. B3essential
  3. D5optional
  4. F♯7essential
  5. A9optional
  6. E13essential
EADGBE0135791215GGGGGGGGGEF♯ABDEF♯ABDEF♯ABDEF♯ABDEABDEF♯ABDEF♯ABDEF♯ABDEF♯
  • G, the root
  • Other chord tones

Keys

Keys with Gmaj13

Gmaj13 belongs to four keys: G major (Imaj13), D major (IVmaj13), E minor (IIImaj13) and B minor (VImaj13).

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

Gmaj13 over another bass note

A keeps Gmaj13 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Gmaj13/B

    Gmaj13 with its 3rd, B, in the bass.

  • Gmaj13/D

    Gmaj13 with its 5th, D, in the bass.

  • Gmaj13/F♯

    Gmaj13 with its 7th, F♯, in the bass.

Questions

Gmaj13, in short

What notes are in the Gmaj13 chord?
Gmaj13 (G major 13th) has six notes: G, B, D, F♯, A and E, the , 3, 5, 7, 9 and 13.
How do you play Gmaj13 on guitar?
Gmaj13 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 3 or the A shape at fret 10.
What key is Gmaj13 in?
Gmaj13 belongs to four keys: G major (Imaj13), D major (IVmaj13), E minor (IIImaj13) and B minor (VImaj13).
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