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Guitar chords · Dominant 13th

F13 chord on guitar

F13 (F 13th) has six notes: F, A, C, E♭, G and D, the , 3, 5, ♭7, 9 and 13.

Shapes

How to play F13

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

F13 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 1 or the A shape at fret 8. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • E shape · fret 1

    ××R♭7313FE♭AD
  • A shape · fret 8

    8fr××R♭7313FE♭AD
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes F13 dominant 13th

A 13th chord stacks the 13th (the 6th, an up) on a chord. Guitarists play the , 3rd, ♭7th and 13th: the 5th and 9th are optional, and the 11th is left out because it clashes with the 3rd. It is a rich dominant heard in jazz, blues and funk.

  • 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 F13 a 13th chord; you can leave out the 5th and the 9th. The 11th is left out: it clashes with the 3rd.

  1. FRroot
  2. A3essential
  3. C5optional
  4. E♭♭7essential
  5. G9optional
  6. D13essential
EADGBE0135791215FFFFFFFFFGACDE♭GACDE♭GACDE♭GACDE♭GACDE♭GACDE♭GACDGACDE♭G
  • F, the root
  • Other chord tones

F13 usually resolves to B♭ or B♭m, the chord a 5th below: the V13–I move.

Keys

Keys with F13

F13 belongs to two keys: B♭ major (V13) and G minor (VII13).

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

F13 over another bass note

A keeps F13 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • F13/A

    F13 with its 3rd, A, in the bass.

  • F13/C

    F13 with its 5th, C, in the bass.

  • F13/E♭

    F13 with its ♭7th, E♭, in the bass.

Questions

F13, in short

What notes are in the F13 chord?
F13 (F 13th) has six notes: F, A, C, E♭, G and D, the , 3, 5, ♭7, 9 and 13.
How do you play F13 on guitar?
F13 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 1 or the A shape at fret 8.
What key is F13 in?
F13 belongs to two keys: B♭ major (V13) and G minor (VII13).
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