D Major 13th Guitar Chord — Drop D
Guitar chord voicings in Drop D tuning (D-A-D-G-B-E)
D Major 13th Voicings in Drop D
D Major 13th filtered by fret:
D Major 13th in Drop D Tuning — Guide
The D Major 13th chord is made up of the following notes: D, F#, A, C#, E, B.
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M, 9M, 13M.
The D Major 13th chord in Drop D tuning (D-A-D-G-B-E) requires different fingerings than standard tuning.
The D major thirteenth is a rich, extended chord that stacks intervals up to the thirteenth — D, F#, A, C#, E, B, intervals 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M, 9M, 13M. In practice, some notes are often omitted to keep the voicing playable, but the effect is a wide, orchestral sound. Major thirteenths are the hallmark of sophisticated jazz arrangements and big band writing, conveying grandeur and harmonic completeness.
How to Play D Major 13th
On guitar, D maj13 typically requires a barre or partial barre voicing. Experiment with different positions to find the voicing that best suits your playing context — higher positions sound brighter and tighter, while lower positions offer more bass and resonance. CAGED system shapes help navigate these options efficiently.
D Major 13th in Progressions
D maj13 appears in various harmonic contexts depending on the key. Analyze the surrounding chords to determine its function — it may serve as a primary chord, a substitution, or a chromatic color chord that enriches the harmonic palette of a progression.
Common Substitutions
Dmaj9, D6/9, or Dmaj7 simplify the voicing while preserving the chord's bright character.
Difficulty: This is an advanced chord on guitar — it requires precise finger placement and usually a barre or uncommon shape.