F# Major Thirteen Guitar Chord (F#maj13) | Easy Ways to Play It
Spelled F#, A#, C#, E#, G#, B and D#, the F# major thirteenth chord (F#maj13) combines root F#, major third A#, fifth C#, major seventh E#, ninth G#, eleventh B and thirteenth D#. The natural eleventh sits a half step above the major third and clashes with it, so it is often left out and the chord is still called maj13.
The F# Lydian scale matches the chord except for the natural eleventh, which Lydian swaps for a sharp eleventh and which is often left out anyway. The E# in this spelling can be avoided by writing the chord as its twin, Gbmaj13. To hear it in context, try it in jazz chord progressions.
F# major 13th guitar chord is also written as F#maj13, F#M13, F#Δ13 or F#ma13.
Notes that compose the F# maj13 chord:
Chord structure of the Major Thirteen chord:
Formula: 1 3 5 7 9 11 13
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What is the spelling of F#maj13?
F#, A#, C#, E#, G#, B and D#. All seven are notes of the F# major scale, with B as the eleventh and D# as the thirteenth.
Is F# major thirteenth the same chord as Gbmaj13?
Yes, Gbmaj13 has the same pitches, spelled Gb, Bb, Db, F, Ab, Cb and Eb. Both spellings are correct and sound identical.
What scale gives the notes of F#maj13?
The F# Lydian scale: F#, G#, A#, B#, C#, D# and E#. It matches every chord tone except B, the eleventh, which Lydian raises to B#.
Why does F# major thirteenth contain E#?
E# is the major seventh of F#, one semitone short of the root. It is written E# rather than F because the seventh letter up from F is E.
