Amaj13 Guitar Chords Explained | A Major Thirteen
Welcome to our comprehensive tutorial on the A maj13 chord. This chord belongs to the family of Major Chords and is composed of the notes A, C#, E, G#, B, D, and F#. The intervals that build this chord are 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13, also known as the Root, Major Third, Perfect Fifth, Major Seventh, Major Ninth, Perfect Eleventh, and Major Thirteenth respectively.
This tutorial is designed to help you understand how to play the A maj13 chord using chord diagrams and fretboard patterns. These will show you the tones that compose the chord and how they are arranged on the fretboard. For a deeper understanding of how chords are built by stacking intervals, check out our tutorial on guitar music theory.
Playing the A maj13 chord requires a good understanding of fretboard intervals. This chord is a bit more advanced than beginner chords, hence, it is also featured in our intermediate guitar chord tutorial.
Furthermore, the A maj13 chord is commonly used in jazz chord progressions. If you're interested in jazz music, you might find our tutorial on jazz chord progressions useful.
We also have a handy interactive tool to help you analyze chord shapes shown on the fretboard. This can be particularly useful if you have a chord shape and you're unsure how to name it.
Whether you're a seasoned guitarist looking to expand your chord knowledge or a beginner seeking to understand more complex chords, this tutorial on the A maj13 chord is a great place to start. Happy strumming!
A maj13 chord Notes:
How to create the Major Thirteen chord:
Guitar Patterns for the Amaj13 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
Open
You can find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
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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.