E Major Thirteenth Ukulele Arpeggio
Ukulele arpeggio — fretboard diagram
E Major Thirteenth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: E, G#, B, D#, F#, C#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M, 9M, 13M
Formula: 2W-WH-2W-WH-7
Number of notes: 6
Also known as: maj13, Maj13, ^13
The E Major Thirteenth arpeggio contains 6 notes (E, G#, B, D#, F#, C#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the E Major Thirteenth Arpeggio
Play the E Major Thirteenth arpeggio whenever a E 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 E Major Thirteenth arpeggio uses 6 notes (E, G#, B, D#, F#, C#) 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 E Major Thirteenth Arpeggio on Ukulele
On ukulele, find E around fret 4 and play through the arpeggio tones (E, G#, B, D#, F#, C#). 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 E Major Thirteenth arpeggio outlines a E major chord and works perfectly over E, Emaj7, E6 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 E Major Thirteenth arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on E. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 6 notes (E, G#, B, D#, F#, C#). After a few passes, begin improvising short melodic phrases built from these arpeggio tones, connecting them with passing notes.
Ukulele Tips
The ukulele's re-entrant tuning creates natural voice leading within the E Major Thirteenth arpeggio. Experiment with picking patterns that take advantage of the high G string to create unexpected interval leaps within the arpeggio shape.