C#m6 C# minor sixth chord
- Notes
- C# E G# A#
- Formula
- 1 b3 5 6
- Semitones
- 0 3 7 9 above the root
- Also written
- Dbm6 (Db Fb Ab Bb)
- Other symbols
- C#min6, C#−6
C# to E is a minor third (3 semitones), E to G# is a major third (4 semitones), G# to A# is a major second (2 semitones). A minor triad plus the major sixth, A#. The sixth and the minor third E are a tritone apart, which gives the chord its dark, unresolved colour. With A# in the bass the same four keys read as A#m7b5.
C#m6 on the piano
Root position from C#4: C#4, E4, G#4, A#4. Middle C is C4.
C#m6 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 C# as its lowest note.
x 4 x 3 5 4 (low E to high e)
Sounds C#3 A#3 E4 G#4
9 x 8 9 9 x (low E to high e)
Sounds C#3 A#3 E4 G#4
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 minor sixth chords on other roots.
Inversions of C#m6
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 | C# E G# A# | C#m6 | |
| 1st inversion | E G# A# C# | A#m7b5/E (also read as C#m6/E) | |
| 2nd inversion | G# A# C# E | A#m7b5/G# (also read as C#m6/G#) | |
| 3rd inversion | A# C# E G# | A#m7b5 (also read as C#m6/A#) |
Where C#m6 fits
C#m6 is ii6 in B major, iv6 in G# minor, i6 in C# minor. As i6 it is the tonic chord of a minor key when the melody uses the raised sixth of the melodic minor scale, A#; many jazz tunes in minor end on it rather than on C#m7.