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A minor 6th chord on guitar (Am6)
Also called or written Am6, Amin6, Amin maj6 or A Minor Major 6
A minor 6th contains A, C, E, and F♯. The open voicing is advanced because the pinky must reach the high e string while the other fingers hold a close cluster.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 6
- Root positionA–C–E–F♯Am6×-0-2-2-1-2
- First inversionC–E–F♯–AAm6/C8-7-7-9-7-8
- Second inversionE–F♯–A–CAm6/E0-0-2-2-1-2
- Third inversionF♯–A–C–EAm6/F♯2-0-2-2-1-0
How do you play an A minor 6th chord on guitar?
A minor 6th is played in open position as × 0 2 2 1 2: middle finger on the D string at fret 2, ring finger on the G string at fret 2, index finger on the B string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 2. The A string rings open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (5) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 3 | A (1) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 4 | F♯ (6) |
AdvancedThe pinky must fret the high e string cleanly while the other fingers hold a tight cluster on the middle strings.
5th fret
A minor 6th is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 7 5 7 5: barre your index finger across fret 5, middle finger on the A string at fret 7, ring finger on the D string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 2 | E (5) |
| 4 (D) | 7 | 3 | A (1) |
| 3 (G) | 5 | 1 (barre) | C (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 4 | F♯ (6) |
| 1 (e) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
7th fret
A minor 6th is played at the 7th fret as × × 7 9 7 8: index finger on the D string at fret 7, pinky finger on the G string at fret 9, middle finger on the B string at fret 7 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 8. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 7 | 1 | A (1) |
| 3 (G) | 9 | 4 | E (5) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 2 | F♯ (6) |
| 1 (e) | 8 | 3 | C (♭3) |
10th fret
A minor 6th is played at the 10th fret as × 12 10 11 10 12: barre your index finger across fret 10, ring finger on the A string at fret 12, middle finger on the G string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 12. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 3 | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 1 (barre) | C (♭3) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 2 | F♯ (6) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 1 (e) | 12 | 4 | E (5) |
Amin6/C inversion
A minor 6th is played at the 7th fret as 8 7 7 9 7 8: barre your index finger across fret 7, middle finger on the low E string at fret 8, pinky finger on the G string at fret 9 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 1 (barre) | E (5) |
| 4 (D) | 7 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 3 (G) | 9 | 4 | E (5) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (6) |
| 1 (e) | 8 | 3 | C (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
A minor 6th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 6. The major 6th, F♯, adds a bright, unresolved colour to the minor triad. Compare it to A minor, which stops at the 5th.
What goes wrong with A minor 6th?
- Letting the pinky collapse onto the B string and deaden its 1st-fret note.
- Strumming the low E string, which is muted to preserve the A bass note.
When to use it
A minor 6th works as a tonic in A minor progressions, such as Am6–Dm6–E7. Its bittersweet colour suits jazz ballads and folk fingerpicking. Try it with A minor or A 5th.
Changing to and from A minor 6th
- Move from A minor 6th to A minor by lifting the pinky off the high e string and letting it ring open.
- Slide the shape down two frets to the 3rd fret to play G minor 6th.
Which voicing to use
The open voicing keeps the bass on A and suits strummed passages. The Amin6/C inversion at the 7th fret puts C in the bass for a darker, more ambiguous sound.
Other A chords
Common questions
How is A minor 6th written?
A minor 6th is written Am6, min maj6, or Amin6.
What is the difference between A minor 6th and A minor 7th?
A minor 6th has a major 6th (F♯), while A minor 7th has a minor 7th (G). The 6th gives a brighter, more melodic colour.
Why is the low E string muted in the open voicing?
The low E is muted to keep the bass note on A, which is the root. Letting it ring would create an E in the bass and muddy the voicing.