Chord · C Major 6th
C6 Chord
C6 is C, E, G and A — sweet, jazzy alternative to a major triad.
C6 on every instrument
The same 4 notes, 6 sets of hands. Open a diagram for alternate shapes, audio and the mistakes to avoid.
What C6 is made of
C6 (C sixth) is built from the notes C, E, G, A, with the interval pattern 1, 3, 5, 6.
Stack 1, 3, 5 and 6 on a root of C and you get C, E, G and A. That interval recipe is what makes the chord a sixth chord — move the same shape to another root and the character travels with it, which is why D6 sounds like a transposed C6.
Major 6th: Sweet, jazzy alternative to a major triad.
Spelling: the notes above are written the way a score would write them, not simplified to the nearest piano key. Every tone here lands on its own letter — no accidentals needed.
Keys that contain C6
All 4 notes sit inside the scale of 6 keys. The roman numeral marks the degree the chord is rooted on.
Other chords on C
Same root, different colour.
The same sixth shape, moved
The identical interval recipe, built on other roots.
Questions people ask about C6
- What notes are in the C6 chord?
- C6 is made of C, E, G and A — the 1, 3, 5 and 6 degrees of a sixth chord built on C.
- What keys use the C6 chord?
- Every note of C6 belongs to 6 keys: C Major (I), F Major (V), G Major (IV), A Minor (III), D Minor (VII), E Minor (VI). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.
- How do you play C6 on guitar and piano?
- This page shows C6 on guitar, piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo — 10 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.
Learn the theory behind it
Why C6 behaves the way it does — the guides that explain the chord instead of just spelling it.