Piano chord
E13E thirteenth
- E1
- G♯3
- B5
- D♭7
- F♯9
- C♯13
- Notes
- 6
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 21semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-2-5
How to play E13 on piano
- Find E: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play E with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on G♯, 2 on D, 5 on C♯.
- Leave out B, F♯: the chord is still recognisable without it, and the hand stays relaxed.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · E – G♯ – B – D – F♯ – C♯
1st inversion · G♯ – B – D – F♯ – C♯ – E
2nd inversion · B – D – F♯ – C♯ – E – G♯
3rd inversion · D – F♯ – C♯ – E – G♯ – B
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
E13 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of E13. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has E at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: EE – G♯ – B – D – F♯ – C♯
- 1st inversionbass: G♯G♯ – B – D – F♯ – C♯ – E
- 2nd inversionbass: BB – D – F♯ – C♯ – E – G♯
- 3rd inversionbass: DD – F♯ – C♯ – E – G♯ – B
E13 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays E, the right hand plays the colour notes G♯–D–C♯. Notes that can be left out are left out.
E13 on other instruments
On guitar and ukulele E13 is usually simplified; you will find it on the root pages.
About the E13 chord
The 6 notes of E thirteenth are E (1), G♯ (3), B (5), D (♭7), F♯ (9), C♯ (13). A dominant thirteenth: a seventh chord with the thirteenth on top, often with the ninth. Pianists usually play the root, third, seventh and thirteenth.
Put your thumb on E and count up: E – G♯ – B – D – F♯ – C♯. The whole chord spans 21 semitones from bottom to top. That is wider than an octave, so most pianists split E13: E in the left hand, the upper notes in the right.
The inversions of E13 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is G♯ (G♯–B–D–F♯–C♯–E). In the 2nd inversion the bass is B (B–D–F♯–C♯–E–G♯). In the 3rd inversion the bass is D (D–F♯–C♯–E–G♯–B).
Add C♯ to E9 and you have E13.
Questions
What notes are in the E13 chord?
E13 (E thirteenth) has 6 notes: E (1), G♯ (3), B (5), D (♭7), F♯ (9), C♯ (13).
How many inversions does E13 have?
E13 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (E–G♯–B–D–F♯–C♯); 1st inversion (G♯–B–D–F♯–C♯–E); 2nd inversion (B–D–F♯–C♯–E–G♯); 3rd inversion (D–F♯–C♯–E–G♯–B).
What is the difference between E13 and E9?
Add C♯ to E9 and you have E13.
Can I play E13 with one hand?
In root position E13 spans 21 semitones, more than an octave. Play the root with the left hand and the upper notes with the right, or leave out the fifth.