F#6 F# major sixth chord
- Notes
- F# A# C# D#
- Formula
- 1 3 5 6
- Semitones
- 0 4 7 9 above the root
- Also written
- Gb6 (Gb Bb Db Eb)
- Other symbols
- F#M6, F#maj6
F# to A# is a major third (4 semitones), A# to C# is a minor third (3 semitones), C# to D# is a major second (2 semitones). A major triad plus the major sixth, D#, nine semitones above F#. With D# in the bass the same four keys read as Ebm7 (also written D#m7): which name fits depends on the bass note.
F#6 on the piano
Root position from F#4: F#4, A#4, C#5, D#5. Middle C is C4.
F#6 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 F# as its lowest note.
2 x 1 3 2 x (low E to high e)
Sounds F#2 D#3 A#3 C#4
x 9 11 11 11 11 (low E to high e)
Sounds F#3 C#4 F#4 A#4 D#5
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 F#6
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 | F# A# C# D# | F#6 | |
| 1st inversion | A# C# D# F# | Ebm7/Bb (also written D#m7/A#; also read as F#6/A#) | |
| 2nd inversion | C# D# F# A# | Ebm7/Db (also written D#m7/C#; also read as F#6/C#) | |
| 3rd inversion | D# F# A# C# | Ebm7 (also written D#m7; also read as F#6/D#) |
Where F#6 fits
F#6 is I6 in F# major, IV6 in C# major. As a final tonic chord it is the swing-era and early rock and roll alternative to F#maj7: the sixth, D#, adds colour without the half-step rub between F# and a major seventh.