Also written Dm6, Dmin6 or Dmin maj6
D minor 6th contains D, F, A and B. The default voicing at the 1st fret is an advanced shape that requires a wide stretch across the strings.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
D minor 6th is built from 1, ♭3, 5, 6. The major 6th interval from D to B gives the chord its colour. Compare it to D minor, which stops at the 5th.
D minor 6th works as a tonic colour in D minor progressions. Use it with D minor and E minor for a dorian feel. It suits jazz, blues and folk lines.
The 1st fret voicing puts D in the bass, giving a root-position sound. The 4th fret voicing puts F in the bass for a first-inversion feel. The 7th fret voicing puts A in the bass for a second-inversion sound.
D minor 6th is played at the 1st fret as 2 2 1 2: middle finger on the G string at fret 2, ring finger on the C string at fret 2, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 2.
Tip — The pinky must reach the 2nd fret on the A string while the index holds the 1st fret on the E string, stretching the hand.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (5) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 3 | D (1) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 4 | B (6) |
D minor 6th is played in open position as 4 2 1 0: ring finger on the G string at fret 4, middle finger on the C string at fret 2 and index finger on the E string at fret 1. The A string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 3 | B (6) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 2 | D (1) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
D minor 6th is played at the 4th fret as 4 5 5 5: index finger on the G string at fret 4, middle finger on the C string at fret 5, ring finger on the E string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 5.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 1 | B (6) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 2 | F (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 3 | A (5) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (1) |
D minor 6th is played at the 7th fret as 7 9 7 8: index finger on the G string at fret 7, pinky finger on the C string at fret 9, middle finger on the E string at fret 7 and ring finger on the A string at fret 8.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 1 | D (1) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 4 | A (5) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 2 | B (6) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 3 | F (♭3) |
D minor 6th is played at the 10th fret as 10 11 10 12: index finger on the G string at fret 10, ring finger on the C string at fret 11, middle finger on the E string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 12.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 3 | B (6) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 2 | D (1) |
| 1 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (5) |
D minor 6th is written Dm6, min maj6 or Dmin6.
D minor 6th adds a major 6th (B) to the minor triad. D minor 7th would add a minor 7th (C) instead.
D minor 6th is not a dominant chord. It functions as a tonic or subdominant colour in minor keys.