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Chord & Fret

Cm6 — minor sixth

Notes in Cm6: C – Eb – G – AFormula: 1 – b3 – 5 – 6

In the formula, the numbers count steps of the major scale starting from the note that names the chord; "b" lowers a half step, "#" raises one — and a slash names the bass note.

The minor sixth adds the major sixth to the minor triad. It has a particularly expressive and ambiguous color, between the minor tonic and the minor subdominant.

The same chord on all four instruments

Cm6, x 3 1 2 1 3Cm631214×CD#ACG
Guitar
Cm6, x 3 1 2 1 3Cm631214×CD#ACG
Electric guitar
Cm6, 1 2 1 1Cm61423D#ACD#
Cavaquinho
Cm6, 2 3 3 3Cm61234AD#GC
Ukulele

Where to use it: It works as an elegant closing chord in minor songs, when a plain minor feels like too little. It is also the movie-style surprise chord when borrowed into a major key — Fm6 showing up in a song in C, for instance.

Every region of the neck hides more shapes of Cm6. In Chord & Fret, you check it note by note, playing any shape as an arpeggio; compare positions with their difficulty marked; and change the tuning — the shape rewrites itself. Start free. Unlock everything with Pro. Plays offline.

See the whole neck in Chord & Fret →

Part of the Sixths family.

Other chords in this family

C6C6/9Cm6/9

See all chord types and qualities →