Also written A6 or A
A 6th is built from A, C♯, E, and F♯. The default voicing places C♯ in the bass and requires a wide stretch across four frets.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
A 6th is a major triad with an added major 6th: 1, 3, 5, 6. The major 6th from A to F♯ gives the chord its warm, open colour. Compare it to A major, which omits the 6th and sounds plainer.
A 6th works as the tonic in A major, especially in the I–IV–V–I progression A–D–E–A. A 6th suits bright pop, country, and swing lines where the added 6th softens the major sound. Try A 6th over A major or A 5th.
The A6/C♯ inversion puts the third in the bass, giving a smooth, melodic start. The A6/E inversion has the fifth in the bass and sounds more grounded, while the A6/F♯ inversion places the sixth in the bass for a lighter colour.
A 6th is played at the 7th fret as 9 9 7 9: middle finger on the E string at fret 9, ring finger on the A string at fret 9, index finger on the D string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 9.
Tip — The wide stretch from the 7th fret on the D string to the 9th fret on the G string is hard to hold cleanly.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9 | 2 | C♯ (3) |
| 3 (A) | 9 | 3 | F♯ (6) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 1 | A (1) |
| 1 (G) | 9 | 4 | E (5) |
A 6th is played at the 11th fret as 12 12 11 11: barre your index finger across fret 11, middle finger on the E string at fret 12 and ring finger on the A string at fret 12.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 2 | E (5) |
| 3 (A) | 12 | 3 | A (1) |
| 2 (D) | 11 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (G) | 11 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (6) |
A 6th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 4 2 2: index finger on the E string at fret 2, pinky finger on the A string at fret 4, middle finger on the D string at fret 2 and ring finger on the G string at fret 2.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (6) |
| 3 (A) | 4 | 4 | C♯ (3) |
| 2 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (5) |
| 1 (G) | 2 | 3 | A (1) |
A 6th is written as A6. The root is A.
A 6th contains the major 6th F♯, while A major 7th contains the major 7th G♯. The 6th gives a warmer, less dissonant sound than the 7th.
A 6th is diatonic to B natural minor and F♯ natural minor, where it acts as the submediant or mediant. Its major quality can add brightness to minor progressions.