F♯ thirteenth (F♯13) chord on banjo

Thirteenth chord (a dominant ninth plus a major thirteenth) on F♯: the notes of the F♯13 chord are F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E – G♯ – D♯. The same chord with a different spelling: G♭ thirteenth (G♭13).

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Basic shapemedium

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What the F♯13 chord sounds like

A thirteenth chord is a dominant seventh with an added major thirteenth (the sixth an octave up). On an instrument the fifth and often the ninth are dropped, and the eleventh is left out. A classic jazz and blues dominant.

Notes of the F♯13 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	F♯	root
3	A♯	major third (4 semitones)
5	C♯	perfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
7	E	minor seventh (10 semitones)
9	G♯	major second (2 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
13	D♯	major sixth (9 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (D): fret 2, index finger (E4)
String 2 (B): fret 4, little finger (D♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 3, middle finger (A♯3)
String 4 (D): fret 4, ring finger (F♯3)

Five-string banjo in open G tuning (g D G B D). The diagram shows the four long strings; the short 5th string (g) rings open – avoid it when G is not in the chord. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The F♯13 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

B major: V13 (dominant)
G♯ minor: VII13

Similar chords and substitutes

If F♯13 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

C7 – tritone substitute: the same third and seventh, swapped – a jazz favourite
B♭dim7 – diminished seventh on the third: a common stand-in for the dominant
F♯7 – a simpler dominant
F♯7sus4 – suspended dominant, less tense
B – where it resolves (V → I)

Simpler versions

F♯9 – all 5 of its notes are in this chord
F♯7 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
F♯6 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
F♯add9 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the F♯13 chord?

F♯, A♯, C♯, E, G♯, D♯. The root is F♯; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major second, major sixth.

What is the easiest way to play F♯13 on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. We show 1 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

Why is a note missing from some F♯13 shapes?

On a fretted instrument you can't always play every note of a 6-note chord. The fifth (C♯) and ninth (G♯) may be dropped – the chord keeps its character without them.

How is the F♯13 chord written?

The chord symbol is F♯13 (also written F#13), and its full name is F♯ thirteenth.