Explore chords · Ukulele
C♯ 6th chord on ukulele (C♯6)
Also called or written C♯6 or C♯
C♯ 6th contains C♯, E♯, G♯ and A♯. The 6th fret shape is a wide stretch, but a 1st fret barre inversion offers relief.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 6
- Root positionC♯–E♯–G♯–A♯C♯61-1-1-1
- First inversionE♯–G♯–A♯–C♯C♯6/E♯3-5-4-4
- Second inversionG♯–A♯–C♯–E♯C♯6/G♯6-8-6-8
- Third inversionA♯–C♯–E♯–G♯C♯6/A♯10-10-9-11
How do you play a C♯ 6th chord on ukulele?
C♯ 6th is played at the 6th fret as 6 8 6 8: index finger on the G string at fret 6, ring finger on the C string at fret 8, middle finger on the E string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 3 | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | A♯ (6) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 4 | E♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach fret 8 on the A string while the index and middle hold fret 6, stretching the hand.
C♯6/A♯ inversion
C♯ 6th is played at the 9th fret as 10 10 9 11: middle finger on the G string at fret 10, ring finger on the C string at fret 10, index finger on the E string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 2 | E♯ (3) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 3 | A♯ (6) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 11 | 4 | G♯ (5) |
1st fret
C♯ 6th is played at the 1st fret as 1 1 1 1: barre your index finger across fret 1.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 (barre) | E♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 1 (barre) | A♯ (6) |
C♯6/E♯ inversion
C♯ 6th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 4 4: index finger on the G string at fret 3, pinky finger on the C string at fret 5, middle finger on the E string at fret 4 and ring finger on the A string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | A♯ (6) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 4 | E♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 2 | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 3 | C♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ 6th is built from the major triad C♯–E♯–G♯ plus the sixth, A♯. The sixth adds a warm, consonant colour to the major sound. Compare it with C♯ major, which stops at the fifth and sounds more plain.
What goes wrong with C♯ 6th?
- Letting the pinky flatten onto the C string, which deadens the E♯ note.
- Pressing too hard with the index, which can pull the G string sharp.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the E string, muting the G♯.
When to use it
C♯ 6th works as the tonic in C♯ major, especially in the I–IV–V–I progression C♯–F♯–G♯–C♯. It suits jazz, swing and folk where a major triad needs extra colour. Try it in place of C♯ major at cadences.
Changing to and from C♯ 6th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 5th fret gives C 6th.
- From C♯ major, add the pinky on the A string at fret 8 and the ring on the C string at fret 8.
Which voicing to use
The 6th fret shape has C♯ in the bass, giving a solid root position. The C♯6/A♭ inversion at the 1st fret places G♯ in the bass, which makes the chord feel lighter and more open. The C♯6/F inversion at the 10th fret has E♯ in the bass, creating a brighter, more open sound.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ 6th written?
C♯ 6th is written as C♯6 or C♯. The root is C♯, and the ASCII spelling is C#. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between C♯ 6th and C♯ major 7th?
C♯ 6th adds the sixth, A♯, while C♯ major 7th adds the seventh, B♯. The sixth is more consonant and less tense than the major seventh.
Can C♯ 6th be used in a minor key?
Yes, C♯ 6th can appear in A♯ natural minor as the III chord, but it is less common. It adds a major colour to the minor progression.
Why does the 1st fret inversion sound different?
The 1st fret inversion has G♯ in the bass, which is the fifth of the chord. This inversion sounds less rooted and more airy than the root position.