Gmaj13 Guitar Chord | How to Play The G Major Thirteen Chord
Welcome to our tutorial on the G maj13 chord, a rich and complex chord belonging to the Major Chords family. The G maj13 chord is composed of the notes G, B, D, F#, A, C, and E, built on the music intervals of 1 (Root), 3 (Major Third), 5 (Perfect Fifth), 7 (Major Seventh), 9 (Major Ninth), 11 (Perfect Eleventh), and 13 (Major Thirteenth).
This chord's complexity comes from the stacking of intervals, a concept you can learn more about in our guitar music theory tutorial. The G maj13 chord is not just for advanced players. Even if you're still working your way through intermediate guitar chords, you'll find the G maj13 chord a rewarding addition to your repertoire.
When learning to play the G maj13, you'll be delving into the world of ninth, sixth, and other extended chords. These chords often feature in jazz chord progressions, offering a wealth of harmonic possibilities.
Our tutorial will guide you through chord diagrams and fretboard patterns, showing you the tones that make up the G maj13 chord. If you're unsure about any chord shapes, our guitar chords reverse namer is a handy tool to help you identify them.
Understanding the G maj13 chord and its intervals is a step towards mastering chord notation. For more on this, check out our tutorial on how to denote chords depending on the intervals that compose it.
So grab your guitar and prepare to explore the rich sounds of the G maj13 chord. Happy strumming!
Notes in the G maj13 chord:
Formula of the Major Thirteen chord:
Fingerings for the G Major Thirteen guitar chord
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What notes are included in a G maj13 guitar chord?
The G maj13 chord is built from seven specific notes: G (Root), B (Major Third), D (Perfect Fifth), F# (Major Seventh), A (Major Ninth), C (Perfect Eleventh), and E (Major Thirteenth).
What musical intervals form the G maj13 chord?
The G maj13 chord is constructed by stacking the following intervals from the root: Root (1), Major Third (3), Perfect Fifth (5), Major Seventh (7), Major Ninth (9), Perfect Eleventh (11), and Major Thirteenth (13).
Why is the G maj13 chord considered a complex chord?
The G maj13 chord is described as complex due to its extensive composition of seven notes and the layering of many intervals, from the root all the way up to the Major Thirteenth. This 'stacking' of intervals creates a rich and harmonically dense sound.
How does the G maj13 chord fit within the family of major chords?
The G maj13 is an extended major chord. It starts with a basic G major triad (G, B, D), then extends it by adding a Major Seventh (F#), a Major Ninth (A), a Perfect Eleventh (C), and finally a Major Thirteenth (E), building upon the foundational major chord structure.
When might a guitarist typically use a G maj13 chord in their playing?
The G maj13 chord is often found in genres like jazz, where its rich and sophisticated sound adds harmonic depth and color to chord progressions. It offers a wealth of expressive possibilities beyond basic triads.
Is the G maj13 chord only suitable for advanced guitar players?
No, while it is a complex extended chord, the G maj13 is not exclusively for advanced players. Guitarists working through intermediate chords can also learn and benefit from adding this rewarding chord to their repertoire, expanding their harmonic vocabulary.