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Guitar chords · Minor 6th

Cm6 chord on guitar

Cm6 (C minor 6th) has four notes: C, E♭, G and A, the , ♭3, 5 and 6.

Shapes

How to play Cm6

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Cm6 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 3 or the E shape at fret 8. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • A shape · fret 3

    ××R6♭35CAE♭G
  • E shape · fret 8

    8frR5R♭36RCGCE♭AC
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Cm6 minor 6th

A minor 6th chord adds a major 6th to a minor chord. The 6th gives it a dark, slightly mysterious colour heard in jazz, bossa nova and film music.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The ♭3rd and the 6th make Cm6 a minor 6th chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. CRroot
  2. E♭♭3essential
  3. G5optional
  4. A6essential
EADGBE0135791215CCCCCCCCGAE♭GAE♭GAE♭GAE♭GAE♭GAE♭GAGAE♭G
  • C, the root
  • Other chord tones

Keys

Keys with Cm6

Cm6 belongs to two keys: B♭ major (ii6) and G minor (iv6).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Slash chords

Cm6 over another bass note

A keeps Cm6 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Cm6/E♭

    Cm6 with its ♭3rd, E♭, in the bass.

  • Cm6/G

    Cm6 with its 5th, G, in the bass.

Questions

Cm6, in short

What notes are in the Cm6 chord?
Cm6 (C minor 6th) has four notes: C, E♭, G and A, the , ♭3, 5 and 6.
How do you play Cm6 on guitar?
Cm6 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 3 or the E shape at fret 8.
What key is Cm6 in?
Cm6 belongs to two keys: B♭ major (ii6) and G minor (iv6).
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