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Guitar Theory: 6th Chords

Sixth chords are peculiar sounding chords. All of the chords from here on out can be major or minor, augmented or diminished. We’re going to look at 6th here, 7th chords then 9th chords. Consider these to be the types of chords and their flavor to be either major or minor.

The 6th chord (major) can probably be best described as whimsical. It’s the kind of chord you’d think a harp would play. Try out some of the chord formations and see if they can fit into your repertoire. The structure of the chord is the same as the major or minor plus an added 6th note. The 6th is not flatted, this would make the chord a C 6 flat or C minor 6 flat for example.

The 6th chord formula is:
1 - 3 (b3) - 5 - 6

So the root is 1, it tells you what chord letter to assign like A, B, C, D , E, F or G.

The 3 is a third above that:
the 5 is a perfect fifth above 1:		 the 6 is a major 6th above 1:
A = C# (C)
B = D# (D)
C = E (Eb)
D = F# (F)
E = G# (G)
F = A (Ab)
G = B (Bb)		 A = E
B = F#
C = G
D = A
E = B
F = C
G = D
A = F#
B = G#
C = A
D = B
E = C#
F = D
G = E

So together the Major 6th Chords are as follows:
So together the minor 6th Chords are as follows:
A = A - C# - E - F#
B = B - D# - F# - G#
C = C - E - G - A
D = D - F# - A - B
E = E - G # - B - C#
F = F - A - C - D
G = G - B - D - E
 A = A - C - E - F#
B = B - D - F# - G#
C = C - Eb - G - A
D = D - F - A - B
E = E - G - B - C#
F = F - Ab - C - D
G = G - Bb - D - E

For a more complete understanding of chords and their application to the fretboard

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Major 6th Chords

6 chords
6 chords

The chart below shows the pattern for all of the tonics (1) - the major 3rds, 5ths and 6ths on the fretboard.
6 chords
If you can find the tonic you can find the distance from the 3rd, 5th and 6th. So any combination of these 4 notes on the fretboard creates a 6th chord for that tonic. Look at the chart and try to figure out as many possible fingerings for a 6th chord as you can. If you look at the chord charts above, you see them in the chart below.

6 chords

Check out Learn and Master Guitar! The complete DVD series that will help you become chord fluent.

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Guitar Theory

Elements of Music Composing for guitar