F13 — F, A, C, E♭, G, D — is a dominant 13th chord: dominant 7 + 9 + 13. The 13 is a major 6th above the root, an octave up; the chord is the standard big-V chord in jazz cadences.
Intervals
The F dominant 13 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:
- F→Amajor 3rd4 semitones
- A→Cminor 3rd3 semitones
- C→Ebminor 3rd3 semitones
- Eb→Gmajor 3rd4 semitones
- G→Dperfect 5th7 semitones
On the keyboard
Each note of the F dominant 13 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.
On the guitar
One voicing of the F dominant 13 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.
- 1F
- 3A
- 5C
- ♭7Eb
- 9G
- 13D
Common mistakes
The defining note is the 13th (D). It sits more than an octave above the root, which is why the chord needs a wide voicing — in tight piano voicings the 13th usually appears in the top register while the root and lower triad tones cluster below.
In context
Functions as the fully-extended V13 — the standard big-dominant in jazz cadences.
Drill it
The F dominant 13 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.
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Frequently asked
- What notes are in a F13 chord?
- F13 contains six notes: F, A, C, E♭, G, D.
- How is F13 different from F7?
- F13 adds the 13th (D) on top of the underlying 7th chord. The 13th extends the chord into the next octave and adds harmonic colour.
- When is F13 used in music?
- Functions as the fully-extended V13 — the standard big-dominant in jazz cadences.