Skip to content

Guitar chords · Major 13th

Bmaj13 chord on guitar

Bmaj13 (B major 13th) has six notes: B, D♯, F♯, A♯, C♯ and G♯, the , 3, 5, 7, 9 and 13.

Shapes

How to play Bmaj13

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Bmaj13 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 2 or the E shape at fret 7. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • A shape · fret 2

    ××R7313BA♯D♯G♯
  • E shape · fret 7

    7fr××R7313BA♯D♯G♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Bmaj13 major 13th

A major 13th chord stacks the 13th on a major , for a lush, wide sound that ends many jazz tunes. Play the , 3rd, 7th and 13th: the 5th and 9th are optional, and the 11th is left out because it clashes with the 3rd.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.
  • 11Left out: players skip it because it clashes.

The 3rd, the 7th and the 13th make Bmaj13 a major 13th chord; you can leave out the 5th and the 9th. The 11th is left out: it clashes with the 3rd.

  1. BRroot
  2. D♯3essential
  3. F♯5optional
  4. A♯7essential
  5. C♯9optional
  6. G♯13essential
EADGBE0135791215BBBBBBBBF♯G♯A♯C♯D♯F♯A♯C♯D♯F♯G♯A♯D♯F♯G♯A♯C♯D♯G♯A♯C♯D♯F♯G♯A♯C♯D♯F♯G♯A♯C♯F♯G♯A♯C♯D♯F♯
  • B, the root
  • Other chord tones

Keys

Keys with Bmaj13

Bmaj13 belongs to four keys: B major (Imaj13), F♯ major (IVmaj13), G♯ minor (IIImaj13) and D♯ minor (VImaj13).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Slash chords

Bmaj13 over another bass note

A keeps Bmaj13 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Bmaj13/D♯

    Bmaj13 with its 3rd, D♯, in the bass.

  • Bmaj13/F♯

    Bmaj13 with its 5th, F♯, in the bass.

  • Bmaj13/A♯

    Bmaj13 with its 7th, A♯, in the bass.

Questions

Bmaj13, in short

What notes are in the Bmaj13 chord?
Bmaj13 (B major 13th) has six notes: B, D♯, F♯, A♯, C♯ and G♯, the , 3, 5, 7, 9 and 13.
How do you play Bmaj13 on guitar?
Bmaj13 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 2 or the E shape at fret 7.
What key is Bmaj13 in?
Bmaj13 belongs to four keys: B major (Imaj13), F♯ major (IVmaj13), G♯ minor (IIImaj13) and D♯ minor (VImaj13).
All guitar chords