Tools / Chords / A 6th

A 6th chord on guitar (A6)

Also written A6 or A

A 6th contains A, C♯, E and F♯. The open shape bars four strings at the 2nd fret, so the index finger must arch cleanly over the low E.

Open×-0-2-2-2-2

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

A1Root

C♯3Major 3rd

E5Perfect 5th

F♯6Major 6th

Formula 1, 3, 5, 6

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionA–C♯–E–F♯A6Bass A

First inversionC♯–E–F♯–AA6/C♯Bass C♯

Second inversionE–F♯–A–C♯A6/EBass E

Third inversionF♯–A–C♯–EA6/F♯Bass F♯

Why it sounds like that

A 6th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, 6. Adding the major sixth F♯ to the A major triad gives the chord its bright, open colour. Compare it with A major, which stops at the fifth.

What goes wrong with A 6th?

Letting the low E string ring: mute it with the index fingertip, or the bass note shifts away from A.
Pressing the barre too hard and sharpening the fretted notes, especially on the G string.
Arching the index finger too much so the D string is not fully fretted and buzzes.

When to use it

A 6th works as the tonic in A major, for example in the I–IV–V–I progression A–D–E–A. Its added sixth suits country, folk and clean pop rhythm parts. Use it to colour an A major chord without changing the bass.

Changing to and from A 6th

Sliding the shape down two frets to the 1st fret gives G 6th; the barre moves as a unit while the open A string becomes the 3rd fret on the low E.

Which voicing to use

The open shape puts the root A in the bass and is the easiest to grab. The A6/C♯ inversion at the 2nd fret places the third in the bass, which makes the chord sound lighter and less settled.

How do you play an A 6th chord on guitar?

Open

Barre● On the diagram

A 6th is played in open position as × 0 2 2 2 2: barre your index finger across fret 2. The A string rings open. The low E string stays muted.

Tip — The index barre must fret the D, G, B and high e strings cleanly at the 2nd fret while the low E is muted, which demands precise finger pressure.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	open	—	A (1)
4 (D)	2	1 (barre)	E (5)
3 (G)	2	1 (barre)	A (1)
2 (B)	2	1 (barre)	C♯ (3)
1 (e)	2	1 (barre)	F♯ (6)

4th fret

Barre

A 6th is played at the 4th fret as 5 4 4 6 5 ×: barre your index finger across fret 4, middle finger on the low E string at fret 5, pinky finger on the G string at fret 6 and ring finger on the B string at fret 5. The high e string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	5	2	A (1)
5 (A)	4	1 (barre)	C♯ (3)
4 (D)	4	1 (barre)	F♯ (6)
3 (G)	6	4	C♯ (3)
2 (B)	5	3	E (5)
1 (e)	muted	—	—

7th fret

Intermediate

A 6th is played at the 7th fret as × × 7 9 7 9: index finger on the D string at fret 7, ring finger on the G string at fret 9, middle finger on the B string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 9. The low E and A strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	muted	—	—
4 (D)	7	1	A (1)
3 (G)	9	3	E (5)
2 (B)	7	2	F♯ (6)
1 (e)	9	4	C♯ (3)

A6/C♯ inversion · fret 2

Barre

A 6th is played at the 2nd fret as × 4 2 2 2 2: barre your index finger across fret 2 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 4. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	4	4	C♯ (3)
4 (D)	2	1 (barre)	E (5)
3 (G)	2	1 (barre)	A (1)
2 (B)	2	1 (barre)	C♯ (3)
1 (e)	2	1 (barre)	F♯ (6)

A6/C♯ inversion · fret 4

Barre

A 6th is played at the 4th fret as × 4 4 6 5 5: barre your index finger across fret 4, pinky finger on the G string at fret 6, middle finger on the B string at fret 5 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 5. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	4	1 (barre)	C♯ (3)
4 (D)	4	1 (barre)	F♯ (6)
3 (G)	6	4	C♯ (3)
2 (B)	5	2	E (5)
1 (e)	5	3	A (1)

Common questions

How does A 6th differ from A major 7th?

A 6th adds the major sixth F♯, while A major 7th adds the major seventh G♯. The sixth gives a warmer, less dissonant colour than the seventh.

Can I play A 6th with a full barre at the 4th fret?

Yes, the 4th fret shape is a full barre with the root on the A string. It sounds fuller and is easier to move up the neck than the open shape.

Why is the low E string muted in the open shape?

The low E is a chord tone, but muting it keeps the bass note on A, which gives the chord a clearer root position sound.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

open

—

A (1)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

E (5)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

A (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

C♯ (3)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

F♯ (6)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

A (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

C♯ (3)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

F♯ (6)

3 (G)

C♯ (3)

2 (B)

E (5)

1 (e)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

A (1)

3 (G)

E (5)

2 (B)

F♯ (6)

1 (e)

C♯ (3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

C♯ (3)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

E (5)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

A (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

C♯ (3)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

F♯ (6)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

1 (barre)

C♯ (3)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

F♯ (6)

3 (G)

C♯ (3)

2 (B)

E (5)

1 (e)

A (1)