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Chord · Reference entry

E 13sus4

13sus4 · E – A – B – D – F♯ – C♯ · intervals P1-P4-P5-m7-M9-M13

The E 13sus4 chord (E13sus4) contains the notes E, A, B, D, F♯, and C♯. Its interval formula is R-P4-P5-m7-M9-M13. A dominant 13th with the 3rd replaced by the 4th — open and modal, common in spiritual jazz.

At the keyboard

E · A · B · D · F# · C#
Flashcards · Chord
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E13sus4

The E 13sus4 chord is a six-note chord made up of E, A, B, D, F♯, and C♯. It is built from a root, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major ninth, and major thirteenth.

Construction

E 13sus4 = Root + Perfect 4th + Perfect 5th + Minor 7th + Major 2nd + Major 6th = E · A · B · D · F♯ · C♯
NoteIntervalDegree
ERoot1
APerfect 4th11
BPerfect 5th5
DMinor 7th♭7
F♯Major 2nd9
C♯Major 6th13

Key Signature

A chord has no key signature of its own, but the E 13sus4 is the tonic (I) chord of E Major, whose key signature has 4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯).

F♯C♯G♯D♯

Order of sharps

Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.

FCGDAEB

Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Chords in the Key of E Major

These are the triads built on each degree of the E major scale:

C1C2C3C4EBC5C6C7C8G♯
IE Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IE MajorMajor
2iiF♯ MinorMinor
3iiiG♯ MinorMinor
4IVA MajorMajor
5VB MajorMajor
6viC♯ MinorMinor
7vii°D♯ DiminishedDiminished

Same Notes, Other Names

The notes E – A – B – D – F♯ – C♯ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:

E 13sus4 — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the E 13sus4 chord on piano?
The E 13sus4 chord contains the notes E – A – B – D – F♯ – C♯. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the E 13sus4 chord?
The E 13sus4 chord (E13sus4) contains 6 notes: E, A, B, D, F#, C#. Formula: R-P4-P5-m7-M9-M13.
How is E13sus4 used in music?
E13sus4 is used in jazz, fusion, and contemporary music to add harmonic color. It appears as a dominant or tonic chord depending on context.
What is the scale degree formula for E13sus4?
E13sus4 uses scale degrees 1-4-5-b7-9-13, giving it its distinctive sound.

Related Tools

Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.

References & Further Reading

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this chord page are grounded in the following sources. Public domain treatises and scores are linked to their full text; primary data is piano.org's own interval-derived reference dataset — continuously maintained and human-verified, with no fixed publication date.

  1. 1

    Jadassohn, Salomon(1883)

    A Manual of Harmony

    Public domain treatise
  2. 2

    Prout, Ebenezer(1889)

    Harmony: Its Theory and Practice

    Public domain treatise
  3. 3

    Goetschius, Percy(1889)

    The Material Used in Musical Composition

    Public domain treatise
  4. 4

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Entry reviewed and maintained by Justin Evans. Corrections are read and applied.Report an error

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