NYT Strands Hints and Answers for March 13, 2026 (#740)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of March 13, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of March 13, 2026? Start with the theme, take one rung at a time, and stop as soon as the grid opens up. Nothing below is revealed until you tap it.
Hints for March 13, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Mountain band
The puzzle calls today’s theme “Mountain band”. Read it loosely: the 5 answers are examples of it, not synonyms for it.
Hint 1A gentle clue
All 5 answers are examples of the theme, not synonyms for it — think of things you would actually meet, not words that mean the same. The spangram runs down the grid, top edge to bottom, so look for a long vertical path first.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with B, F, G, H, M.
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 5, 6, 6, 8 and 9. The shortest is 5 letters, the longest 9.
SpangramThe spangram
BLUEGRASSMUSIC
14 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with B, ends with C.
AnswersAll theme words
- BANJO5 letters
- FIDDLE6 letters
- GUITAR6 letters
- MANDOLIN8 letters
- HARMONICA9 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.