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
Play it on any root
The explorer starts on C6. Strike it, then break it up one note at a time, then change the root — the shape on the keyboard is what stays the same. The other buttons are the chords one change away from this one.
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, or press any notes into the chord identifier to have the chord and its inversion named for you.
| 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 |
| Sixth in the bass | 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♯ |