The short version
- C6 is C sixth. Its notes are C, E, G and A (formula 1 – 3 – 5 – 6).
- Easiest way to play it: the open shape, frets x 3 2 2 1 0 from low E to high E (x = don’t play).
- It sounds sweet, vintage, a bit 1950s. Use it as a softer, jazzier I chord, especially at the very end of a song.
- C6 turns up in 6 keys: C major (as the I6), G major (as the IV6), F major (as the V6), A minor (as the III6) and E minor (as the VI6), and more in the table below.
- Try it in: C6 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7, a 1950s turnaround wearing a cardigan.
How to play C6 on guitar, step by step
Start with the shape marked “Start here” above: the open chord, the easiest way in.
- Put your index finger on fret 1 of the 2nd (B) string.
- Put your middle finger on fret 2 of the 4th (D) string.
- Put your ring finger on fret 2 of the 3rd (G) string.
- Put your little finger on fret 3 of the 5th (A) string.
- Let the high E string ring open.
- Don’t play the low E string: skip it, or touch it lightly with a spare finger so it can’t ring.
- Strum from the 5th (A) string down, then press Strum on this page to check it sounds the same.
Once that’s comfy, try the other 2 shapes. Shape 2 is the barre chord, root on the 5th string (3rd fret): x 3 5 5 5 5. Shape 3 is the movable shape, root on the 6th string (8th fret): 8 x 10 9 10 x. Same chord, different spot on the neck, which helps when the next chord lives nearby.
Buzzing? Press just behind the fret wire, not in the middle of the fret, and come down on your fingertips so they don’t touch the next string. Then press Strum and play along: if yours sounds duller, one string is muted somewhere.
Notes in the C6 chord
C6 is built from 4 notes. On guitar you’ll often play some of them twice, on different strings. That’s normal; the chord is still C6.
| Note | Interval | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| C | 1 root | Names the chord and anchors the bass. |
| E | 3 major third | Makes it major (happy). |
| G | 5 perfect fifth | Adds weight; often the first note left out. |
| A | 6 major sixth | Sweet, vintage colour. |
What C6 sounds like, and when to use it
A major chord with the sixth added. Sweet and vintage: the ending chord of a 1960s pop song, a swing rhythm part, or a Beatles outro. Use it as a softer, jazzier I chord, especially at the very end of a song.
What key is C6 in?
C6 turns up in 6 keys: C major (as the I6), G major (as the IV6), F major (as the V6), A minor (as the III6) and E minor (as the VI6), and more in the table below. Tap a key to see the rest of its chords on the circle of fifths.
| Key | Numeral | Spelled as |
|---|---|---|
| C major | I6 | C6 |
| G major | IV6 | C6 |
| F major | V6 | C6 |
| A minor | III6 | C6 |
| E minor | VI6 | C6 |
| D minor | VII6 | C6 |
Chords that go with C6
Here’s a progression to try: C6 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7 (I6–vi7–ii7–V7), a 1950s turnaround wearing a cardigan.
More progressions → Transpose it →
Using C6 in a Suno prompt
Suno pays attention to chord names in a style prompt, at least some of the time. Put the progression in, keep the BPM, and let it fill in the rest. Then compare its guitar part with the shapes above.
Swing, 132 BPM, chord progression C6 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7, sixth-chord rhythm guitar, upright bass, brushed drums, crooner vocals, sweet and vintage
C6 chord FAQ
What notes are in the C6 chord?
C6 has 4 notes: C (the root), E (the major third), G (the perfect fifth) and A (the major sixth). The chord formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – 6.
How do you play C6 on guitar?
The easy way is open chord. Strings from low E to high E: x 3 2 2 1 0 (x means don’t play that string). Put your index finger on fret 1 of the 2nd (B) string. Put your middle finger on fret 2 of the 4th (D) string. Put your ring finger on fret 2 of the 3rd (G) string. Put your little finger on fret 3 of the 5th (A) string. Let the high E string ring open. Don’t play the low E string: skip it, or touch it lightly with a spare finger so it can’t ring.
What does the “6” in C6 mean?
It tells you the chord type: C6 is C sixth. A major chord with the sixth added. Sweet and vintage: the ending chord of a 1960s pop song, a swing rhythm part, or a Beatles outro.
What key is C6 in?
C6 turns up in 6 keys: C major (as the I6), G major (as the IV6), F major (as the V6), A minor (as the III6) and E minor (as the VI6), and more in the table below. Major keys: C major, G major, F major. Minor keys: A minor, E minor, D minor.
What is the difference between C6 and Am7?
Surprise: they share exactly the same notes (C, E, G and A). C6 puts C in the bass so it sounds sweet and settled; Am7 puts A in the bass so it sounds mellow and minor. Same ingredients, different plate.
What chords go well with C6?
Try Am7, F6, Dm7 and G7. The progression C6 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7 (I6–vi7–ii7–V7) is a 1950s turnaround wearing a cardigan. Press Play progression on this page to hear it.
Other major 6th chords
Got the chord? Now write the song
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