A6 Chord on Guitar
Notes A C♯ E F♯. Start with open A6 (x 0 2 2 2 2): the index finger lies across strings 4 to 1 at fret 2.
Chord · A6 major 6th
Open A6 · x 0 2 2 2 2
open strings
A6, root on string 6 (fret 5) · 5 x 4 6 5 x
movable, no open strings
A6 with F♯ in the bass (fret 4) · x x 4 6 5 5
movable, no open strings
1 A3 C♯5 E6 F♯
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 4 to 1 at fret 2
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): open
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 2
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 2
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 2
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 2
- String 6 (low E): middle (2), fret 5
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 4
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 6
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 5
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
- Barre: middle finger flat across strings 2 to 1 at fret 5
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 4
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 6
- String 2 (B): middle (2), fret 5
- String 1 (high e): middle (2), fret 5
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from A |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | root |
| 3 | C♯ | major 3rd |
| 5 | E | perfect 5th |
| 6 | F♯ | major 6th |
Formula 1 3 5 6 (major 6th).
Keys that contain A6
| Key | A6 is the |
|---|---|
| A major | I6 |
| E major | IV6 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing A6: what goes wrong
A line at fret 2
Open A is x 0 2 2 2 0. For A6, also fret string 1 at 2, and that note is F♯, the 6th. The whole shape becomes one index-finger barre over four strings.
Same notes as F♯m7
A6 is A, C♯, E, F♯; F♯m7 is F♯, A, C♯, E. With A in the bass it is A6, with F♯ in the bass it is F♯m7.
A6 in a key
A6 is the I6 chord in A major and the IV6 chord in E major.
Related chords
Learn and practise A6
- Metronomepractise the change to A6 at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in A6?
A, C♯, E, F♯: the 1, 3, 5, 6 of the A6 major 6th chord.
Is A6 easier than A?
For many players, yes: open A6 is a single barre across four strings at fret 2 and needs no finger-by-finger placing. It is a different chord, though: A6 adds F♯, the major 6th.