A Major 13th
Hear the A Major 13th chord played for you.
Amaj13
A – C♯ – E – G♯ – B – D – F♯
Formula:R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11-M13
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11-M13
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-7-9-11-13
Introduction
The A Major 13th chord is a seven-note chord made up of A, C♯, E, G♯, B, D, and F♯. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh, major ninth, perfect eleventh, and major thirteenth.
The A Major 13th piano chord (Amaj13) consists of the notes A, C#, E, G#, B, D, F#. It is a major 11th chord with an added major 13th, giving it a lush, complete character that includes all seven diatonic scale degrees. Formula: R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11-M13 | Scale degrees: 1-3-5-7-9-11-13.
Notes
Key Signature
The key of A Major 13th has 3 sharps.
F♯C♯G♯
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.
F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯
Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Chords in the Key of A Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the A major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — A Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11-M13
Intervals: P1-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11-M13
The A Major 13th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11-M13 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11-M13 show the distance between each note in the chord.
A Major 13th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the A Major 13th chord?
Practical voicing: A–C#–G#–B–F# (root, third, seventh, ninth, thirteenth).
How does Amaj13 differ from A13?
Amaj13 has major seventh (G#). A13 has minor seventh (G).
How is Amaj13 used in music?
Richest tonic in A Major. Acoustic jazz, folk-jazz, worship.
How does Amaj13 differ from Amaj9?
Adds the thirteenth (F#) for sweet warmth.
What songs use Major 13th chords?
Jazz, folk-jazz, acoustic music.
Do I need to play all seven notes?
No — A–C#–G#–B–F#.
Practice Tips
- Practical voicing: A–C#–G#–B–F#.
- Amaj13 is the richest tonic in A Major.
- The thirteenth (F#) gives warmth.
- Practice Bm11 → E13 → Amaj13.
- Rootless: C#–G#–B–F#.
- Beautiful in acoustic and worship settings.
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.