Piano chord
F♯13F sharp thirteenth
- F♯1
- A♯3
- C♯5
- E♭7
- G♯9
- D♯13
- Notes
- 6
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 21semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-2-5
How to play F♯13 on piano
- Find F♯: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play F♯ with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on A♯, 2 on E, 5 on D♯.
- Leave out C♯, G♯: 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 · F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E – G♯ – D♯
1st inversion · A♯ – C♯ – E – G♯ – D♯ – F♯
2nd inversion · C♯ – E – G♯ – D♯ – F♯ – A♯
3rd inversion · E – G♯ – D♯ – F♯ – A♯ – C♯
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
F♯13 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of F♯13. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has F♯ at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: F♯F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E – G♯ – D♯
- 1st inversionbass: A♯A♯ – C♯ – E – G♯ – D♯ – F♯
- 2nd inversionbass: C♯C♯ – E – G♯ – D♯ – F♯ – A♯
- 3rd inversionbass: EE – G♯ – D♯ – F♯ – A♯ – C♯
F♯13 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays F♯, the right hand plays the colour notes A♯–E–D♯. Notes that can be left out are left out.
F♯13 on other instruments
On guitar and ukulele F♯13 is usually simplified; you will find it on the root pages.
About the F♯13 chord
The 6 notes of F sharp thirteenth are F♯ (1), A♯ (3), C♯ (5), E (♭7), G♯ (9), D♯ (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 F♯ and count up: F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E – G♯ – D♯. The whole chord spans 21 semitones from bottom to top. That is wider than an octave, so most pianists split F♯13: F♯ in the left hand, the upper notes in the right.
The inversions of F♯13 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is A♯ (A♯–C♯–E–G♯–D♯–F♯). In the 2nd inversion the bass is C♯ (C♯–E–G♯–D♯–F♯–A♯). In the 3rd inversion the bass is E (E–G♯–D♯–F♯–A♯–C♯).
Add D♯ to F♯9 and you have F♯13.
Questions
What notes are in the F♯13 chord?
F♯13 (F sharp thirteenth) has 6 notes: F♯ (1), A♯ (3), C♯ (5), E (♭7), G♯ (9), D♯ (13).
How many inversions does F♯13 have?
F♯13 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (F♯–A♯–C♯–E–G♯–D♯); 1st inversion (A♯–C♯–E–G♯–D♯–F♯); 2nd inversion (C♯–E–G♯–D♯–F♯–A♯); 3rd inversion (E–G♯–D♯–F♯–A♯–C♯).
What is the difference between F♯13 and F♯9?
Add D♯ to F♯9 and you have F♯13.
Can I play F♯13 with one hand?
In root position F♯13 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.