13th Chords on Guitar: Extended Harmony Beyond the 9th
Learn how to play 13th chords on guitar. Understand the theory, discover playable voicings for dominant 13th and major 13th, and find out how to use them in jazz, blues, and neo-soul.
Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions
Showing 8 of 110 playable shapes
The A major major chord, built from the root (A major), major third C♯, and perfect fifth E, delivers a bright, harmonious sound that feels resolved and complete. Its balanced structure makes it the foundation of Western harmony, widely used across all genres to convey joy, strength, and stability.
Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.
The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.
This note defines the chord's major quality and brings brightness to the sound.
The fifth reinforces stability and gives the chord its strong harmonic frame.
Articles that reference this chord and explain how to use it in your playing.
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