Explore chords · Guitar
C 6th chord on guitar (C6)
Also called or written C6 or C
C 6th contains C, E, G and A. The 7th fret shape bars the A and D strings with the index finger while the pinky reaches the 9th fret.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 6
- Root positionC–E–G–AC68-7-7-9-8-×
- First inversionE–G–A–CC6/E0-0-2-0-1-0
- Second inversionG–A–C–EC6/G3-0-2-0-1-0
- Third inversionA–C–E–GC6/A×-0-2-0-1-0
How do you play a C 6th chord on guitar?
C 6th is played at the 7th fret as 8 7 7 9 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 B string at fret 8. The high e string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (1) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 1 (barre) | E (3) |
| 4 (D) | 7 | 1 (barre) | A (6) |
| 3 (G) | 9 | 4 | E (3) |
| 2 (B) | 8 | 3 | G (5) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
AdvancedThe index barre must fret the A and D strings at the 7th fret while the pinky stretches to the 9th fret G string, which requires finger independence.
10th fret
C 6th is played at the 10th fret as × × 10 12 10 12: index finger on the D string at fret 10, ring finger on the G string at fret 12, middle finger on the B string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 12. 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) | 10 | 1 | C (1) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 3 | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 2 | A (6) |
| 1 (e) | 12 | 4 | E (3) |
C6/E inversion · 0-0-2-0-1-0 — the easy shape, no barre
C 6th is played in open position as 0 0 2 0 1 0: middle finger on the D string at fret 2 and index finger on the B string at fret 1. The low E, A, G and high e strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (3) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (6) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (3) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (1) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (3) |
C6/E inversion · 0-0-2-0-1-3
C 6th is played in open position as 0 0 2 0 1 3: middle finger on the D string at fret 2, index finger on the B string at fret 1 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The low E, A and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (3) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (6) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (3) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (1) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (5) |
C6/E inversion · 0-0-2-2-1-3
C 6th is played in open position as 0 0 2 2 1 3: 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 3. The low E and A strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (3) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (6) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (3) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 3 | A (6) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (1) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (5) |
Why it sounds like that
C 6th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, 6. The major sixth A added to the C major triad gives the chord a bright, jazzy colour. Compare it with C major, which has only three notes.
What goes wrong with C 6th?
- Letting the high e string ring: mute it with the ring finger, or the open E clashes with the chord.
- Not pressing the barre hard enough on the D string, causing a buzz.
- Flattening the pinky onto the B string and deadening it.
When to use it
C 6th is the tonic in C major, heard in the I–IV–V–I progression C–F–G–C. Its jazzy colour suits swing and blues. Use it to add sophistication to a C major chord in a turnaround.
Changing to and from C 6th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 6th fret gives B 6th; the barre and fingers move as a unit.
Which voicing to use
The 7th fret shape keeps the root C in the bass and is the most common movable form. The C6/E inversion at the open position places the third E in the bass, which gives a lighter, more open sound.
Other C chords
Common questions
How does C 6th differ from C major 7th?
C 6th adds the sixth A, while C major 7th adds the seventh B. The sixth gives a warmer, more consonant sound than the seventh.
Can I play C 6th with a barre at the 10th fret?
Yes, the 10th fret shape is a partial barre with the root on the D string. It is useful for higher register playing.
Why is the high e string muted in the 7th fret shape?
The high e is a chord tone, but muting it keeps the voicing compact and avoids doubling the root too high.