Tools / Chords / C 6th

C 6th chord on guitar (C6)

Also 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.

7th fret8-7-7-9-8-×

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

C1Root

E3Major 3rd

G5Perfect 5th

A6Major 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 positionC–E–G–AC6Bass C

First inversionE–G–A–CC6/EBass E

Second inversionG–A–C–EC6/GBass G

Third inversionA–C–E–GC6/ABass A

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.

How do you play a C 6th chord on guitar?

7th fret

Barre● On the diagram

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.

Tip — The 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.

String-by-string 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	—	—

10th fret

Intermediate

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.

String-by-string 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

Beginner

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.

String-by-string 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

Beginner

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.

String-by-string 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

Beginner

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.

String-by-string 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)

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.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

C (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

E (3)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

A (6)

3 (G)

E (3)

2 (B)

G (5)

1 (e)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

C (1)

3 (G)

G (5)

2 (B)

A (6)

1 (e)

E (3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

open

—

E (3)

5 (A)

open

—

A (6)

4 (D)

E (3)

3 (G)

open

—

G (5)

2 (B)

C (1)

1 (e)

open

—

E (3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

open

—

E (3)

5 (A)

open

—

A (6)

4 (D)

E (3)

3 (G)

open

—

G (5)

2 (B)

C (1)

1 (e)

G (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

open

—

E (3)

5 (A)

open

—

A (6)

4 (D)

E (3)

3 (G)

A (6)

2 (B)

C (1)

1 (e)

G (5)