C6 Chord

The C6 chord is a major sixth chord built on the root note C. Its notes are C, E, G and A.

Major sixth chords sound bright and settled without the pull of a seventh. Adding a major sixth to a major triad gives a warm, slightly retro colour that filled swing bands and fifties pop, and it still ends a song beautifully.

Root

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C6 on piano

Inversion:

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To play C6 on piano, place your right-hand thumb on C, then index, middle and little finger on E, G and A. Press all keys at the same time and listen for a clear, balanced sound. Practice switching to and from this chord slowly, then with a metronome at a comfortable tempo.

C6 on guitar

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Beginner

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On guitar, C6 is commonly played with the voicing shown above. If the chord contains barred notes, keep your index finger flat across the fretboard and curve the other fingers so they don't mute the open strings. Strum only the strings marked as active in the diagram for the cleanest tone.

Play the chord

C · E · G · A

C6 chord notes

Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 6Notes: C · E · G · A

Degree	Interval	Semitones	Note
1	Root	0	C
3	Major third	4	E
5	Perfect fifth	7	G
6	Major sixth	9	A

How to use the C6 chord

The C6 chord is built from a root, a major third, a perfect fifth and a major sixth. Starting from the root C, stack the intervals to get the complete chord: C, E, G and A. Learning the formula is the fastest way to transpose the chord to any other key.

Major sixth chords work as a softer substitute for a major triad, especially as a final chord where a maj7 would sound too jazzy. Swing, rockabilly, bossa nova and country all lean on them.

Common progressions

The C6 chord works beautifully in these progressions. Click a chord name to jump to its page.

Pop progression

I → V → vi → IV

C G Am F

Once you are comfortable with C6, explore neighbouring chords to unlock new progressions. The chords below share notes, keys or functions with C6 and are a natural next step in your practice.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C6 chord?

The C6 chord contains C, E, G and A.

Is the C6 chord major or minor?

C6 is a major sixth chord. Major sixth chords sound bright and settled without the pull of a seventh. Adding a major sixth to a major triad gives a warm, slightly retro colour that filled swing bands and fifties pop, and it still ends a song beautifully.

How do you play C6 on piano?

Place your fingers on C, E, G and A and play the notes together. On piano, the root is usually played with the little finger of the left hand and the upper notes with the right hand.

How do you play C6 on guitar?

C6 is typically played using the fingering shown in the interactive diagram above. You can also try an open position if one of the chord tones lines up with an open string.

What chords work well with C6?

C6 pairs naturally with the chords listed in the related chords section. Chords a perfect fifth up or down, relative major or minor chords, and chords sharing two notes are all strong choices.

Keep exploring

Deepen your understanding of the C6 chord with our other music theory tools.

Browse all chords Explore scales Explore progressions Chord Transposer Chord Finder Try the Piano Open Circle of Fifths