C6 Chord on Guitar
Notes C E G A. Start with open C6 (x 3 2 2 1 0): the open C with string 3 fretted at 2 instead of open.
Chord · C6 major 6th
Open C6 · x 3 2 2 1 0
open strings
C6, 4 strings (fret 5) · x x 5 5 5 5
movable, no open strings
C6, root on string 6 (fret 8) · 8 x 7 9 8 x
movable, no open strings
1 C3 E5 G6 A
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): pinky (4), fret 3
- String 4 (D): middle (2), fret 2
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 2
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 1
- String 1 (high e): open
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 4 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 5
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 5
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 5
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 5
- String 6 (low E): middle (2), fret 8
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 7
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 9
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 8
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from C |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | root |
| 3 | E | major 3rd |
| 5 | G | perfect 5th |
| 6 | A | major 6th |
Formula 1 3 5 6 (major 6th).
Keys that contain C6
| Key | C6 is the |
|---|---|
| C major | I6 |
| G major | IV6 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing C6: what goes wrong
One string from open C
Open C is x 3 2 0 1 0. In C6 the open G on string 3 becomes A at fret 2. That A is the 6th, and it is the only change.
Same notes as Am7
C6 is C, E, G, A; Am7 is A, C, E, G. The notes are the same and the bass decides the name: C in the bass gives C6, A in the bass gives Am7. This open shape leaves out the G and keeps C, E and A.
C6 in a key
C6 is the I6 chord in C major and the IV6 chord in G major. It is a gentler, more settled version of C.
Related chords
Learn and practise C6
- Metronomepractise the change to C6 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 C6?
C, E, G, A: the 1, 3, 5, 6 of the C6 major 6th chord.
What is the difference between C and C6?
C6 adds A, the major 6th: C, E, G, A. On the open shapes only string 3 changes, from open G to A at fret 2.