A6 A major sixth chord
- Notes
- A C# E F#
- Formula
- 1 3 5 6
- Semitones
- 0 4 7 9 above the root
- Other symbols
- AM6, Amaj6
A to C# is a major third (4 semitones), C# to E is a minor third (3 semitones), E to F# is a major second (2 semitones). A major triad plus the major sixth, F#, nine semitones above A. With F# in the bass the same four keys read as F#m7: which name fits depends on the bass note.
A6 on the piano
Root position from A4: A4, C#5, E5, F#5. Middle C is C4.
A6 on the guitar
Standard tuning (E A D G B E). Strings run low E on the left to high e on the right, frets downwards; × is a muted string, ○ an open string, and each dot shows the note it sounds, with the root in blue-green. Every shape below has A as its lowest note.
x 0 2 2 2 2 (low E to high e)
Sounds A2 E3 A3 C#4 F#4
5 x 4 6 5 x (low E to high e)
Sounds A2 F#3 C#4 E4
The E-shape and A-shape grips are movable: an E-shape chord's root is the note under your first finger on the low E string, an A-shape chord's root is the note on the A string. Slide the same grip up or down to play major sixth chords on other roots.
Inversions of A6
An inversion puts a note other than the root in the bass. The name is what semicord's chord finder calls those notes played bottom to top; a slash name like C/E means a C chord with E in the bass.
| Position | Notes, bass first | Named | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | A C# E F# | A6 | |
| 1st inversion | C# E F# A | F#m7/C# (also read as A6/C#) | |
| 2nd inversion | E F# A C# | F#m7/E (also read as A6/E) | |
| 3rd inversion | F# A C# E | F#m7 (also read as A6/F#) |
Where A6 fits
A6 is I6 in A major, IV6 in E major. As a final tonic chord it is the swing-era and early rock and roll alternative to Amaj7: the sixth, F#, adds colour without the half-step rub between A and a major seventh.