Chord reference
Major sixth
1 – 3 – 5 – 6 · example: C6 = C – E – G – A
A major triad with a sixth added. Common as a softer alternative to a major seventh.
Written as a formula it is 1 – 3 – 5 – 6: the degrees of the major scale it keeps, with any that are altered marked. On C that gives C6 = C, E, G, A.
How it is built
- Aminor
- Gthird
- Emajor
- Croot
The intervals above the root
| Chord tone | Interval above the root | Semitones | Note in C6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perfect unison | 0 | C |
| 3 | Major third | 4 | E |
| 5 | Perfect fifth | 7 | G |
| 6 | Major sixth | 9 | A |
Inversions
The same notes can be stacked in any vertical order. The chord keeps its name; what changes is which note is in the bass. See chord inversions for why that matters.
| Position | Notes | Written as |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | C – E – G – A | C6 |
| First inversion | E – G – A – C | C6/E |
| Second inversion | G – A – C – E | C6/G |
| Third inversion | A – C – E – G | C6/A |
This chord on every root
| Root | Symbol | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| C | C6 | C – E – G – A |
| D♭ | D♭6 | D♭ – F – A♭ – B♭ |
| D | D6 | D – F♯ – A – B |
| E♭ | E♭6 | E♭ – G – B♭ – C |
| E | E6 | E – G♯ – B – C♯ |
| F | F6 | F – A – C – D |
| F♯ | F♯6 | F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – D♯ |
| G | G6 | G – B – D – E |
| A♭ | A♭6 | A♭ – C – E♭ – F |
| A | A6 | A – C♯ – E – F♯ |
| B♭ | B♭6 | B♭ – D – F – G |
| B | B6 | B – D♯ – F♯ – G♯ |