6th Chords On Guitar - Diagrams And Shapes

6th chords

The 6th chord is a four-note chord that adds the sixth degree note in the scale to the major triad. By comparing C with C6, we can see that the notes change from C, E, G to C, E, G, A.

6th chords in open positions

C6

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D6

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E6

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F6

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G6

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A6

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B6

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Comments

These are, generally, chords in open position. F6, which is a closed chord (with no loose strings), is an exception. For E6, XX2120, is a nearby option. In the pictured version, B6 is played with an alternative bass note (F#), an alternative with less fingers needed is X2110X. The first chord diagram from the left is a popular way to play C6. It's easy to memorize since it has almost the same positions as C major. But it doesn't include a fifth (G). It's not strictly necessary to include the fifth, but alternative versions that do so are presented below. Also noticeable is that F6 doesn't have a third (C). The presented version above is popular to play, but an alternative is mentioned below. A fingerpicking alternative to the pictured A6 is X0X222.

6th chords with flats and sharps

Since these are not played all that often, they are only presented in shortened notation:

C sharp / D flat 6th: X4332X D sharp / E flat 6th: X6554X F sharp / G flat 6th: XX4342 G sharp / A flat 6th: XX6564 A sharp / B flat 6th: X13333

Theory

The major 6th chord can be found on the IV and V degrees in a major scale. In C major, this would be F6 and G6.

Chord structure

The sixth is built with the formula 1-3-5-6 (root, major 3rd, perfect 5th and major 6th).

Chord construction

C6 E - A - E - G - C - G D6 x - x - D - A - B - F# E6 E - B - E - G# - C# - E F6 x - x - F - A - D - F G6 G - B - D - G - B - E A6 x - A - E - A - C# - F# B6 F# - B - D# - G# - B - x Guitar versions of the chord

Notes in chord

C6 C - E - G - A C#6 C# - F - G# - A# D6 D - F# - A - B D#6 D# - G - A# - C E6 E - G#- B - C# F6 F - A - C - D F#6 F# - A# - C #- D# G6 G - B - D - E G#6 G# - C - D# - F A6 A - C# - E - F# A#6 A# - D - F - G B6 B - D# - F# - G# The intervals are 1 – 3 – 5 – 6

Other versions

G6

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G6

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C6/E

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C6/G

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E6

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F6

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B6

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Comments

The first C6 chord diagram is played with an alternative bass note (E). It's possible to play without the 6th string also, making it a C6/A to be strict. The second diagram shows how C6 can be played by bar four strings on the fifth fret. The E6 can also be played with an open low E-string. This particular chord shape could be combined with a major 7th chord version with similar shape. For example, Bb6/F (XX3333) and Bbmaj7 (XX3335). The third diagram presents a way to play F6 in open position and includes all four tones belonging to it. However, it harder to play than the version presented above and not especially popular. The diagram to the right presents a second way to play B6, this time with the root note on the bass string (5th string). It is somewhat trickier than the open chord variation.

Simplified versions in jazz context

Two shapes with bass notes on 6th and 5th strings could be added, which are especially common in jazz:

C6: X322XX C6: 7X79XX

Movable 6th chord

Here are two ways to play the 6th with movable shapes, including a barre shape. The root note is the same as the bass note in all examples.

6th chord in open position

Here are additional shapes in open position for this chord category:

F6: 10021X G6: XX5430 / 350000 G6/A: X05700 G6/D: X55430 G#6/D#: XX1111 Bb6: X1303X

6th chord inversions

A 6th chord is possible to play in numerous configurations including three inversions (it's also common to combine inversions with omitted notes for this chord type). C6 can be used as an example:

• C - E - G - A (root position)
• E - G - A - C (1st inversion)
• G - A - C - E (2nd inversion)
• A - C - E - G (3rd inversion)

To indicate that a chord is played inverted it is written with a slash before the bass note. For example, the first inversion of the C6 chord is written C6/E. Some examples follow below in short notation:

C6/E: 002013 C6/G: 302010 C6/A: X02013 D6/E: 000202 D6/F#: 200202 D6/B: X20202 E6/F#: 2042100 E6/A: X09999 E6/B: X22120 F6/A: X033231 F6/C: X10211 F6/C: X30231 G6/A: X00000 G6/B: X20030 G6/D: XX0000 A6/C#: X44220 A6/E: 007675 B6/D#: XX1102 B6/E: 021102 B6/F#: 22110X

For more chord diagrams, see The Chord Reference ebook.

Chord progressions

Progressions including this chord type: C - C6 - F - F6 C6 - G11 - Dm7 A6 - B9 - Emaj7 C6 - C#dim7 - Dm7 - G11 G6 - Dmaj9/F# (200220) - Em6

The 6th chord functions as I, IV and V chords. So, for example, in C major, C6, F6 and G6 are viable (diatonic) options. A certain way to use the 6th chord is together with a major triad and a major seventh with the same root, which creates a descending movement in the middle voice: C - Cmaj7 - C6 D - Dmaj7 - D6 G - Gmaj7 - G6 To create a similar middle voice line, but with an ascending movement, an aug chord can be included: D - Daug - D6 - D7

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