Minor 6th guitar chords
A minor 6th chord is a minor chord with a major sixth added. It is the sound of swing and gypsy jazz rhythm guitar.
How minor 6th chords are built
The formula is 1–♭3–5–6: the root, the minor third, the perfect fifth and the major sixth, counted from the root’s major scale. In Cm6 that gives C · E♭ · G · A.
All 12 minor 6th chords on guitar
Fingerings read from the low E string to the high E string. x = not played, 0 = open. 5 of the twelve main shapes are easy, 7 medium and 0 hard.
| Chord | Notes | Fingering | Position | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cm6 | C E♭ G A | x31213 | 1st fret | Medium |
| Dbm6 | D♭ F♭ A♭ B♭ | x42324 | 2nd fret | Medium |
| Dm6 | D F A B | xx0201 | open position | Easy |
| Ebm6 | E♭ G♭ B♭ C | x11312 | 1st fret | Medium |
| Em6 | E G B C♯ | 022020 | open position | Easy |
| Fm6 | F A♭ C D | 1x0111 | open position | Easy |
| Gbm6 | G♭ A D♭ E♭ | 2x1222 | 1st fret | Medium |
| Gm6 | G B♭ D E | 3x2333 | 2nd fret | Medium |
| Abm6 | A♭ C♭ E♭ F | 4x344x | 3rd fret | Medium |
| Am6 | A C E F♯ | x02212 | open position | Easy |
| Bbm6 | B♭ D♭ F G | x13x23 | 1st fret | Medium |
| Bm6 | B D F♯ G♯ | 220102 | open position | Easy |
Minor 6th chord diagrams
- Cm6x312134 fingerings · medium
- Dm6xx02014 fingerings · easy
- Em60220204 fingerings · easy
- Fm61x01114 fingerings · easy
- Gm63x23334 fingerings · medium
- Am6x022124 fingerings · easy
Where minor 6th chords appear in a key
In a major key, a minor 6th chord fits on the ii degree of the scale. For example, Cm6 is the ii chord in Bb major.