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D minor 6th chord on guitar (Dm6)
Also called or written Dm6, Dmin6, Dmin maj6 or D Minor Major 6
D minor 6th contains D, F, A, and B. The open voicing keeps the bass on D while the 6th rings on the top string.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 6
- Root positionD–F–A–BDm6×-×-0-2-0-1
- First inversionF–A–B–DDm6/F1-0-0-2-0-1
- Second inversionA–B–D–FDm6/A×-0-0-2-0-1
- Third inversionB–D–F–ADm6/B×-2-0-2-0-1
How do you play a D minor 6th chord on guitar?
D minor 6th is played in open position as × × 0 2 0 1: middle finger on the G string at fret 2 and index finger on the high e string at fret 1. The D and B strings ring open. 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) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (6) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 1 | F (♭3) |
AdvancedThe middle finger must fret the G string cleanly while the index finger frets the high e, leaving the open B string to ring.
3rd fret
D minor 6th is played at the 3rd fret as × 5 3 4 3 5: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the A string at fret 5, middle finger on the G string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 5. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 5 | 3 | D (1) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 1 (barre) | F (♭3) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 2 | B (6) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 1 (e) | 5 | 4 | A (5) |
10th fret
D minor 6th is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 12 10 12 10: barre your index finger across fret 10, middle finger on the A string at fret 12, ring finger on the D string at fret 12 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 2 | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | 12 | 3 | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 10 | 1 (barre) | F (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 4 | B (6) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
12th fret
D minor 6th is played at the 12th fret as × × 12 14 12 13: index finger on the D string at fret 12, pinky finger on the G string at fret 14, middle finger on the B string at fret 12 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 13. 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) | 12 | 1 | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 14 | 4 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 2 | B (6) |
| 1 (e) | 13 | 3 | F (♭3) |
Dmin6/F inversion
D minor 6th is played in open position as 1 0 0 2 0 1: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, ring finger on the G string at fret 2 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 1. The A, D and B strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 3 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (6) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 2 | F (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
D minor 6th is built from 1, ♭3, 5, 6. The major 6th interval between D and B gives the chord its colour. The nearest contrast is D minor, which drops the 6th.
What goes wrong with D minor 6th?
- The index finger flattens onto the B string, muting it.
- The middle finger touches the D string, dulling the open note.
- The low E or A string sounds because the strum starts too high.
When to use it
D minor 6th works over D minor and D 5th chords. It fits A natural minor and C major keys. Use it in jazz, blues, and folk progressions where the 6th adds colour. Try it with D minor and E minor.
Changing to and from D minor 6th
- Move to <a href="/guitar/e-minor-chord">E minor</a> by lifting the index finger and placing the middle and ring fingers on the A and D strings at the 2nd fret.
Which voicing to use
The open position keeps the bass on D and is easiest to grab. The 3rd fret voicing uses a barre and moves the bass up an octave. The Dmin6/F inversion puts F in the bass for a darker sound.
Other D chords
Common questions
How is D minor 6th written?
D minor 6th is written Dm6 or Dmin6. The symbol Dm6, min maj6 is also used.
What is the difference between D minor 6th and D minor?
D minor 6th adds the major 6th, B, to the D minor triad. D minor contains only D, F, and A. The 6th gives a brighter, more colourful sound.
Why does D minor 6th sound jazzy?
The major 6th interval creates a softer dissonance than the minor 7th. It is common in jazz and swing. The chord also appears in blues and folk.