C# Major Thirteenth Ukulele Arpeggio
Ukulele arpeggio — fretboard diagram
C# Major Thirteenth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: C#, F, G#, C, D#, A#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M, 9M, 13M
Formula: 2W-WH-2W-WH-7
Number of notes: 6
Also known as: maj13, Maj13, ^13
The C# Major Thirteenth arpeggio contains 6 notes (C#, F, G#, C, D#, A#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the C# Major Thirteenth Arpeggio
Play the C# Major Thirteenth arpeggio whenever a C# Major Thirteenth chord appears in a progression. Unlike scales (which include passing tones), arpeggios guarantee every note you play IS a chord tone, making your solo sound harmonically precise and intentional.
Arpeggio vs. Scale
The C# Major Thirteenth arpeggio uses 6 notes (C#, F, G#, C, D#, A#) while the full scale uses 7. The arpeggio is a subset — think of it as the skeleton of the scale. Practice alternating between the arpeggio and the full scale to develop a melodic vocabulary that mixes chord tones with passing tones.
How to Play C# Major Thirteenth Arpeggio on Ukulele
On ukulele, find C# around the open strings and play through the arpeggio tones (C#, F, G#, C, D#, A#). You may need to move beyond a single chord shape to reach all 6 notes. Practice connecting the arpeggio tones smoothly across adjacent fret positions.
The C# Major Thirteenth arpeggio outlines a C# major chord and works perfectly over C#, C#maj7, C#6 harmonies. It is a foundational arpeggio for soloing over major-key progressions and emphasizes the bright, resolved character of the major triad.
Practice Routine
Play the C# Major Thirteenth arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on C#. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 6 notes (C#, F, G#, C, D#, A#). After a few passes, begin improvising short melodic phrases built from these arpeggio tones, connecting them with passing notes.
Ukulele Tips
On ukulele, integrate the C# Major Thirteenth arpeggio into your fingerpicking by plucking through the chord shape one note at a time. This transforms a static strum into a melodic, harp-like texture that showcases each interval clearly.