Easy Ways To Play The A13 Guitar Chord
Welcome to our tutorial on the A 13 chord. This chord, a member of the Dominant Chords family, is a rich and complex sound that can add depth to your guitar playing. Composed of the notes A, C#, E, G, B, D, and F#, the A 13 chord is built from a series of specific fretboard intervals: 1 (Root), 3 (Major Third), 5 (Perfect Fifth), b7 (Minor Seventh), 9 (Major Ninth), 11 (Perfect Eleventh), and 13 (Major Thirteenth).
Learning to play the A 13 chord involves understanding these intervals and how they stack to create the chord's unique sound. Our guitar music theory tutorial is a great resource for understanding this concept. Additionally, our chord notation tutorial can help you understand how these intervals are denoted in chord notation.
In this tutorial, we will provide detailed chord diagrams and fretboard patterns to help you visualize and understand the tones that compose the A 13 chord. We will also explore how this chord fits into jazz chord progressions, as the A 13 is often used in this genre. So, whether you're an intermediate player looking to broaden your chord vocabulary or a seasoned pro wanting to refine your skills, this tutorial has something for you.
Finally, if you're interested in exploring more complex chords, be sure to check out our comprehensive guitar chord tutorial which covers all types of chords, from basic to advanced. Happy strumming!
Notes in the A 13 chord:
Formula of the Dominant Thirteen chord:
Guitar Patterns for the A Dominant Thirteen chord
Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams.
If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.
You can also use this accessible chords page with written diagrams instruction.
Position 1
Movable
Position 2
Movable
Position 3
Movable
Position 4
Open
Position 5
Barre
Movable
Position 6
Barre
Movable
Position 7
Barre
Movable
Position 8
Barre
Open
Position 9
Barre
Open
Position 10
Barre
Movable
Position 11
Barre
Movable
Position 12
Barre
Movable
You can find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
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FAQ
What notes and intervals make up an A13 chord?
The A13 chord is built from the notes A, C#, E, G, B, D, and F#. These correspond to the following intervals relative to the root (A): Root (1), Major Third (3), Perfect Fifth (5), Minor Seventh (b7), Major Ninth (9), Perfect Eleventh (11), and Major Thirteenth (13).
Why is the A13 chord considered a 'dominant' chord?
The A13 chord is a member of the dominant chord family because it contains a minor seventh (b7) interval. This specific interval creates a harmonic tension that typically 'wants' to resolve, giving it a dominant function within a musical progression.
Does an A13 chord always include all seven of its theoretical notes when played on guitar?
No, while an A13 theoretically has seven distinct notes, guitar voicings often omit certain notes like the Perfect Fifth (5) or Perfect Eleventh (11). This is common for extended chords to make them playable on a six-string instrument and to emphasize the most characteristic intervals, such as the Root, Third, Minor Seventh, and Thirteenth.
What contributes to the A13 chord's 'rich and complex' sound?
The A13 chord's rich and complex sound stems from its extensive stack of intervals. Beyond the basic triad and minor seventh, the inclusion of the Major Ninth, Perfect Eleventh, and Major Thirteenth intervals adds significant harmonic density and color, creating a sophisticated and full texture.
When is an A13 chord typically used in music?
The A13 chord is frequently used in jazz chord progressions. Its dominant quality and extended harmonic richness make it particularly effective for creating tension and color, often leading into a resolution in a jazz context.
How do intervals like '3' (Major Third) and '13' (Major Thirteenth) relate in the A13 chord's structure?
The numbers in chord intervals describe their position in the scale relative to the root. The '3' refers to the Major Third, which is a core component. The '13' (Major Thirteenth) is an extension that also implies the presence of the 9th and 11th intervals, building upon the basic dominant seventh structure to add further harmonic complexity.