Explore chords · Ukulele
C minor 6th chord on ukulele (Cm6)
Also called or written Cm6, Cmin6, Cmin maj6 or C Minor Major 6
C minor 6th contains C, E♭, G, and A. The 5th fret grip shifts the A minor 6th shape up three frets, with the pinky at the 7th fret.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 6
- Root positionC–E♭–G–ACm612-12-11-12
- First inversionE♭–G–A–CCm6/E♭2-3-3-3
- Second inversionG–A–C–E♭Cm6/G5-7-5-6
- Third inversionA–C–E♭–GCm6/A8-9-8-10
How do you play a C minor 6th chord on ukulele?
C minor 6th is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 5 6: index finger on the G string at fret 5, pinky finger on the C string at fret 7, middle finger on the E string at fret 5 and ring finger on the A string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 1 | C (1) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 4 | G (5) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 2 | A (6) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 3 | E♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky stretches to the 7th fret on the C string while the index and middle hold the 5th fret, demanding a wide span.
Cmin6/A inversion
C minor 6th is played at the 8th fret as 8 9 8 10: index finger on the G string at fret 8, ring finger on the C string at fret 9, middle finger on the E string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 1 | E♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 3 | A (6) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (1) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (5) |
11th fret
C minor 6th is played at the 11th fret as 12 12 11 12: middle finger on the G string at fret 12, ring finger on the C string at fret 12, index finger on the E string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 12 | 2 | G (5) |
| 3 (C) | 12 | 3 | C (1) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 1 | E♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (6) |
Cmin6/E♭ inversion
C minor 6th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 3 3 3: index finger on the G string at fret 2, middle finger on the C string at fret 3, ring finger on the E string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (6) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 2 | E♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (5) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C minor 6th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 6. The major 6th from C to A gives the chord its bright colour. Compare C minor, which lacks the 6th.
What goes wrong with C minor 6th?
- Letting the pinky flatten and mute the E string.
- Pressing the index finger too hard, which sharpens the G string.
- Failing to keep the ring finger clear of the C string.
When to use it
C minor 6th functions as a tonic in C minor and colours C minor and C 5th chords. It suits jazz and minor blues.
Changing to and from C minor 6th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 3rd fret gives B♭ minor 6th.
- From C minor, add the ring finger on the A string, 6th fret.
Which voicing to use
The 5th fret position keeps C in the bass and works for closed-position playing. The Cmin6/E♭ inversion at the 8th fret places E♭ in the bass, darkening the sound.
Other C chords
Common questions
How is C minor 6th written?
C minor 6th is written Cm6, min maj6, or Cmin6.
What is the difference between C minor 6th and C minor 7th?
C minor 6th has a major 6th (A), while C minor 7th has a minor 7th (B♭). The 6th gives a brighter colour.
Can C minor 6th be played with open strings?
Yes, the Cmin6/A inversion at the 2nd fret uses open strings, but the default 5th fret position has no open strings.