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Major Sixth Chord

 

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Last updated on: 2009-08-19 2:22 PM

A major sixth chord is composed using a root/1st, major 3rd, perfect 5th and major 6th (or R/1-3-5-6) intervals played simultaneously. Generally written as C6 or Cma6, it is good practice to simply use an uppercase C followed by a superscripted 6 to represent it in writing (ie: C6).

Major Sixth Chord Profile

Intervals root/1st, major 3rd, perfect 5th, major 6th or R/1-3-5-6
Stability Consonant / Resolved
Grouping Class Tetrad
Common Names (examples in C) C6, Cma6, Cadd6

Major Sixth Chord Voicings

The chord voicings below are not shown in any particular key, they are shapes which can be moved around the guitar neck freely using the root note (circled dot) as your navigator. See example below.

  • How to use
  • As an example, let's say you require a D major chord
  • After playing all the chord voicings, you decide on voicing #2
  • Voicing #2 has it's root on the 5th string so you need to find the D note on this string
  • Click the notes on the neck chart tab and find the D note on the 5th fret (5th string)
  • Now play D major using voicing #2 on the 5th fret
  • Use the Octave chart tab to help you remember which notes are where
  • Use the Chord chart help tab if your a beginner at reading chord boxes
Major sixth chord voicings
Chord chart help
Notes on the guitar neck chart (lite version)
Octaves chart

Using octaves to learn notes on the guitar neck

  1. First determine which chord you require, let's use a B major chord in this example.
  2. We know the root note is B, (if it were an A major chord the root note would be A and for Cma7 it would be C, etc etc)
  3. Using the notes on the guitar neck chart, find the B note on the 6th string, 7th fret.
  4. Now using the major chord voicings chart, look for voicing #4 which has it's root note on the 6th string and play it, your done!
  5. Remember, learning and memorizing notes, chord voicings and scales in this way will improve your playing skills, theoretical knowledge and desirability as a band member.

Major Sixth Chord Audio Sample(s)

To download audio sample(s) for later listening, right click on the MP3 link, then from the context menu that appears select Save Target As (Internet Explorer) or Save Link As (Firefox).

Audio Sample Name Flash MP3
C Major Sixth Chord voicing #2 c-major-sixth-chord-voicing-2.mp3

Related Lessons & Resources

External Resources