E thirteenth (E13) chord on piano

Thirteenth chord (a dominant ninth plus a major thirteenth) on E: the notes of the E13 chord are E – G♯ – B – D – F♯ – C♯.

Full chord: E4 – G♯4 – B4 – D5 – F♯5 – C♯6

Chord finder Transposer

What the E13 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 E13 chord

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

Piano voicings

Chords with five or more notes are rarely played in one hand: the left hand takes the root, the right hand the colour notes. The fifth (and in an eleventh chord the third) is often left out.

Full chord

E4 – G♯4 – B4 – D5 – F♯5 – C♯6

Two-hand voicing

E3 – G♯4 – D5 – F♯5 – C♯6

Which keys is it in?

The E13 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

A major: V13 (dominant)
F♯ minor: VII13

Similar chords and substitutes

If E13 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

B♭7 – tritone substitute: the same third and seventh, swapped – a jazz favourite
A♭dim7 – diminished seventh on the third: a common stand-in for the dominant
E7 – a simpler dominant
E7sus4 – suspended dominant, less tense
A – where it resolves (V → I)

Simpler versions

E9 – all 5 of its notes are in this chord
E7 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
E6 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
Eadd9 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the E13 chord?

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

How do I play the E13 chord on piano?

Play the root with your left hand and the colour notes (third, seventh, ninth, thirteenth) with your right hand – the two-hand voicing above. Stacking all 6 notes in one hand is possible but sounds crowded.

How is the E13 chord written?

The chord symbol is E13, and its full name is E thirteenth.