A maj13 Guitar Chord | Play, Hear and Practice Interactively
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The A maj13 chord belongs to the family of Major Chords and is composed of the notes A, C#, E, G#, B, D, and F#. These correspond to the intervals 1 (Root), 3 (Major Third), 5 (Perfect Fifth), 7 (Major Seventh), 9 (Major Ninth), 11 (Perfect Eleventh), and 13 (Major Thirteenth). Use the interactive fretboard tool at the top of this page to visualize every fingering, listen to the chord played as a strum or arpeggio, and check your own playing with the real-time microphone feedback - the tool will tell you if you're playing it correctly.
This complex chord is a staple in jazz, adding rich harmonic color. To truly master how it's constructed and why it sounds the way it does, explore our guide on Chord Construction. Given its extended nature, understanding different Chord Inversions can unlock many beautiful voicings. You'll also encounter many barre shapes for the A maj13; our Guitar Bar Chords tutorial can help you confidently fret them. Once you're comfortable with the fingerings, focus on smooth chord changes to integrate it into your playing fluidly.
Further down this page, you'll find chord diagrams for the A maj13, carefully ranked from the easiest open positions to more challenging barre shapes. We also delve deeper into the music theory behind this chord, suggest songs that feature it, and show you the keys where it commonly appears. Before you immerse yourself in the diagrams, we highly recommend spending a few minutes with the interactive tool above. Set a comfortable pace using the drum & BPM tool, play the chord, and let the microphone feedback guide you to perfect finger placement. This hands-on, immediate feedback loop is the most effective way to internalize new chords quickly and confidently.
A maj13 chord Notes:
How to create the Major Thirteen chord:
Guitar Patterns for the Amaj13 chord
Position 1
Movable
Position 2
Open
Find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
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You can also use this accessible Amaj13 chord page, with written diagram instructions and screen-reader support for blind users.
FAQ
What are the specific notes and intervals that make up an A maj13 chord?
An A maj13 chord is composed of seven distinct notes: A, C#, E, G#, B, D, and F#. These notes correspond to the Root, Major Third, Perfect Fifth, Major Seventh, Major Ninth, Perfect Eleventh, and Major Thirteenth intervals, respectively, when measured from the root note A.
Why is the A maj13 chord classified as a 'major' chord?
The A maj13 chord is considered a 'major' chord because it inherently contains a Major Third (C# relative to A) and a Major Seventh (G# relative to A) within its intervallic structure. These two intervals are fundamental in defining a chord's major quality.
What does the number '13' signify in the name A maj13 chord?
The '13' in A maj13 indicates that the chord's complete theoretical structure includes the 13th interval (F# in this case) stacked above the root, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh. It signifies the highest extension present, implying the inclusion of all lower extensions like the major seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh.
How are the many notes of an A maj13 chord typically played on the guitar fretboard?
While an A maj13 chord theoretically contains seven notes, guitarists use specific chord diagrams and fretboard patterns to find practical voicings. To make the chord playable and ensure clarity on the guitar, some notes (often the perfect fifth or perfect eleventh) might be strategically omitted in a particular voicing, while still retaining the chord's essential character and sound.
When is the A maj13 chord commonly used in music?
The A maj13 chord is frequently used in jazz chord progressions. Its rich and complex harmonic quality, derived from the inclusion of the major seventh and major thirteenth intervals, adds a sophisticated and characteristic sound often desired in jazz music.
What makes the A maj13 chord more advanced compared to beginner chords?
The A maj13 chord is considered more advanced due to its comprehensive structure, involving seven distinct notes and incorporating higher extensions like the Major Ninth, Perfect Eleventh, and Major Thirteenth. Playing this chord effectively on the guitar often requires a deeper understanding of fretboard intervals and more intricate fingerings than basic, simpler chords.