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A 6th chord on bass (A6)
Also called or 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.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 6
- Root positionA–C♯–E–F♯A6no shape on this instrument
- First inversionC♯–E–F♯–AA6/C♯9-9-7-9
- Second inversionE–F♯–A–C♯A6/E12-12-11-11
- Third inversionF♯–A–C♯–EA6/F♯2-4-2-2
How do you play an A 6th chord on bass?
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| 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) |
AdvancedThe wide stretch from the 7th fret on the D string to the 9th fret on the G string is hard to hold cleanly.
A6/E inversion
A 6th is played at the 11th fret as 12 12 11 11: ring finger on the E string at fret 12, pinky finger on the A string at fret 12, index finger on the D string at fret 11 and middle finger on the G string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 3 | E (5) |
| 3 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (1) |
| 2 (D) | 11 | 1 | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (G) | 11 | 2 | F♯ (6) |
A6/F♯ inversion
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| 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) |
Why it sounds like that
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.
What goes wrong with A 6th?
- Letting the index finger collapse onto the A string, which mutes the C♯.
- Pressing the pinky too far from the fret, causing the F♯ to buzz.
- Strumming the open E string, which is not part of A 6th.
When to use it
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.
Changing to and from A 6th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 7th fret gives G 6th.
- Move to D major by shifting the index finger to the 5th fret on the A string while keeping the other fingers in place.
Which voicing to use
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.
Other A chords
Common questions
How is A 6th written?
A 6th is written as A6. The root is A.
What is the difference between A 6th and A major 7th?
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.
Can A 6th be used in a minor key?
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.