C6 chord on guitar
C Major Sixth. Notes: C, E, G and A.
How to play C6
- Put your index finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 1 (C).
- Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).
- Put your ring finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 2 (A).
- Put your pinky finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 3 (C).
- Let the open high E string ring.
- Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
- Strum from the A string down.
All 4 ways to play C6
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Open position
EasyBarre at fret 5
MediumFret 7 position
HardBarre at fret 8
HardNotes and theory
The major sixth adds a sixth to a major triad: sweet and a little retro, heard a lot in swing, country and old pop endings. The formula is 1 3 5 6, and you will also see it written as Cmaj6.
More C chords
All C guitar chordsmajor sixth chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the C6 chord?
C6 (C major sixth) is made of four notes: C (root), E (major third), G (perfect fifth) and A (major sixth).
How do you play C6 on guitar?
The easiest C6 is the "open position" shape. Put your index finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 1 (C). Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E). Put your ring finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 2 (A).
Is C6 hard to play on guitar?
No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 4 fretted notes plus open strings.
What does a major sixth chord sound like?
The major sixth adds a sixth to a major triad: sweet and a little retro, heard a lot in swing, country and old pop endings.