FMFretboardMentor
PL

C6 Chord on Guitar

C6 is the C major 6th chord — 4 notes (C, E, G, A) built from the formula 1 3 5 6. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: C · E · G · AFormula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 6Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

C6: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • C6 – open position×R36R3open position
  • C6 – fret 1×R36R×fret 1
  • C6 – fret 2×R3635fret 2
  • C6 – fret 55R35R36fret 5
  • C6 – fret 77R3635×fret 7
  • C6 – fret 88××R36Rfret 8
  • C6 – fret 99××R363fret 9
  • C6 – fret 1010××R563fret 10

C6: Drop 2 voicings

  • C6 – bass: 55R36××bass: 5
  • C6 – bass: 59×5R36×bass: 5
  • C6 – bass: 5××5R36bass: 5
  • C6 – bass: 65635R××bass: 6
  • C6 – bass: 612×635R×bass: 6
  • C6 – bass: 67××635Rbass: 6
  • C6 – bass: R7R563××bass: R
  • C6 – bass: R×R563×bass: R
  • C6 – bass: R10××R563bass: R
  • C6 – bass: 31036R5××bass: 3
  • C6 – bass: 35×36R5×bass: 3
  • C6 – bass: 3××36R5bass: 3

C6: Drop 3 voicings

  • C6 – bass: 3103×R56×bass: 3
  • C6 – bass: 35×3×R56bass: 3
  • C6 – bass: 55×36R×bass: 5
  • C6 – bass: 58×5×36Rbass: 5
  • C6 – bass: 66×5R3×bass: 6
  • C6 – bass: 612×6×5R3bass: 6
  • C6 – bass: R7R×635×bass: R
  • C6 – bass: R×R×635bass: R

C6: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • C6 – R-3-77R36×××R-3-7
  • C6 – R-3-7×R36××R-3-7
  • C6 – R-7-37R×63××R-7-3
  • C6 – R-7-3×R×63×R-7-3

Keys that contain C6

Scales to play over C6

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain C, E, G, A.

Other C chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Major 6th chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the C6 chord?
C6 (C major 6th) contains C, E, G, A — formula 1 3 5 6.
How do you play C6 on guitar?
A common shape is x32210 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with C6?
Good choices to solo over C6: C Ionian (Major), C Major pentatonic, C Lydian.
What key is C6 in?
C6 is diatonic in C major (I6), F major (V6), G major (IV6), D minor (♭VII6), E minor (♭VI6), A minor (♭III6).