Is this an A13 chord or something else? Help identifying.

[Mighty Motif Max]

Part of writing out things is knowing what chords you're working with. I'm pretty good with things up to a 9th in general, but after that I'm not so good.

 

I'm thinking the closest thing is an A13 chord. What do you think?

 

(going up the keyboard) G+C#+F# with an A an octave below.

 

 

Thanks!

[ChiefDanG]

Yes, an A13.

The way I remember what's in a 13 chord is it must have a 7th and a 6th - 7+6=13. You have a G (7) and an F# (6).

[Mighty Motif Max]

Thank you. So I should just notate it as an A13 chord symbol? Just wondering because of how it's spread out. I'd like to communicate that you don't add the A in the right hand without actually transcribing the whole thing down into sheet music. I can do that, but this is supposed to be a quick band lead sheet.

[Josh Paxton]

Yes. If I saw an A13 on a chart, that's probably exactly how I'd play it. People who know what they're doing wouldn't put an extra A in the right hand unless it was the melody note.

[MAJUSCULE]

13 chords also often feature the 9. You'd still be correct in calling that voicing a 13, though.

[Mighty Motif Max]

Yes. If I saw an A13 on a chart, that's probably exactly how I'd play it. People who know what they're doing wouldn't put an extra A in the right hand unless it was the melody note.

 

I was thinking about the A right next to the G (lowest note of the upper hand). But thanks, I will notate it this way then.

[3rdAct]

13 chords also often feature the 9. You'd still be correct in calling that voicing a 13, though.

Yes, I would likely include the B if I saw A13. Unless it didn't sound right. Sometimes b9 fits better...

[lightbg]

Easiest way I learned to create a 13th chord is to play a major triad in root position, then drop the root one whole step, and raise the 5th one whole step.

 

There ya go.

 

Jake

[marczellm]

I learned it differently:

- There is such a thing as a 76 chord (the one that you spelled out)

- There is such a thing as a 769 chord

- If you name a chord 9 it automatically contains the 7th

- If you name a chord minor 11 it includes 7 and 9

- If you name a chord #11 it includes 7 and 9

- If you name a chord 13 it includes 7, 9 and #11

[analogika]

^ Yep. My understanding is that if a basic chord (maj/min) is followed by an odd number, all odd notes up to that one are included.

 

So an A13 would include the 7, 9, and 11.

 

So this would, to me, be an A7 add 13 (or add 6, but that would imply a close dissonance between the 6 and 7 that doesn't happen the way this chord is voiced).

[mdenriet]

So an A13 would include the 7, 9, and 11.

For me this is correct. Same goes for Ami11.. I would play effectifely a Emi7/A

 

(going up the keyboard) G+C#+F# with an A an octave below.

I would call this: A7/13 . If the B was included it would be a A9/13.

 

 

 

 

[MathOfInsects]

+1 for that being a garden-variety A13.

[MAJUSCULE]

I would never include the #11 on a 13 chord without the explicit addition. The 9, yes, but not the #11.

 

Different strokes.

[MathOfInsects]

I would never include the #11 on a 13 chord without the explicit addition. The 9, yes, but not the #11.

 

Different strokes.

 

Me neither, but I might instinctively drop it in if it were organic to the mode or home key (and non-clashy with melody). For example, if the A13 was the IV to an EMaj7, and there was no D in the melody, I could see myself adding that #11 to the voicing even if it wasnt charted there.

[Threadslayer]

So an A13 would include the 7, 9, and 11.

For me this is correct. Same goes for Ami11.. I would play effectifely a Emi7/A

Agreed, and I think of an A13 as a GMaj7/A by default.

 

 

 

 

 

[MAJUSCULE]

Gotta have the third in there if it's a 13. That would be a little too different of a stroke for me.

[Docbop]

The essential tones of a chord are the 3rd and 7th and you have the major 3 and b7th of A so you have a A dominant. Now you have the F# color tone for the 13th add to that the A in the bass. So you took a A7 shell voicing and add the 13th as a color tone. That's how I'd look at it.

[Nordude]

I would never include the #11 on a 13 chord without the explicit addition. The 9, yes, but not the #11.

 

This.

[Bobadohshe]

Agreed, and I think of an A13 as a GMaj7/A by default.

 

That can get you in big trouble. GMaj7 / A can mean A7 sus or A13 sus, but it doesn't just mean A13. I'd be pissed if I wrote A13 and somebody kept putting the natural 4 in there.

[Threadslayer]

Huh. Guess I've been doing it wrong all these years. Not terribly surprising. I'm thinking of playing something in the key of D major and using the GMaj7/A (what I think of as A13) as the dominant. A #11 would sound weird in that context - no?

I guess you could call it A7 add 9 add 11 add 13, but that seems like a lot of work.

[timwat]

To me the original notes quoted would imply an A13 voicing. Like many others, I'd instinctively add natural 9 to grab (bottom up): G - B - C# - F#

 

A b9 would add a nice crunch, if melody doesn't clash. Natural 11 isn't a bad thought...but it adds a different pretty flavor to the voicing that may not be appropriate with what else going on.

 

If we're talking notation to provide direction to comping, A13 gets me there. If I intentionally wanted the 11th voiced, I'd use a different chord name (A7sus or similar?).

 

Blowing over an A13? Sure, 11 and #11 are candidates depending on the flavor intended. But if you're comping an 11 or #11 behind a soloist / singer and the chart says A13, your results may be different than intended - and different than what the rest of the band is expecting.

[mdenriet]

That can get you in big trouble. GMaj7 / A can mean A7 sus or A13 sus, but it doesn't just mean A13. I'd be pissed if I wrote A13 and somebody kept putting the natural 4 in there.

 

If i play A-G in the left hand and G-B-D-F# in the right hand, i would consider the D a 11 and not the natural 4. If you dont want them to play the 11th in a 13th chord, you should write A9/13, so that it obvious that 7 and 9 are in , and that the 13 is add.

[Donsta]

The upper notes look like a typical choice for a 3 note voicing off the 7th. If it was off the 3rd, I'd probably play C#-G and some type of 9th depending on the function of the chord.

 

As given I'd call it A13.