A Major 6 chord starts with a Major triad and adds the 6th degree. That extra note gives you another way to color a Major chord without changing its basic Major quality.
In this lesson, you’ll learn the Major 6 formula, a few practical movable shapes, and additional inversions and extensions you can explore across the fretboard.
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Start with one Major chord and add its 6th degree. Then learn one movable Major 6 shape and use it from several roots. Compare its sound with the Major and Major 7 versions of the same chord.
Major 6 chord theory
A Major 6 chord contains the chord tones 1, 3, 5, and 6. It starts with a Major triad and adds the 6th degree.
For example, C Major contains C, E, and G. Add A, the 6th degree, and you get C Major 6: C, E, G, and A.
You may see this written as C 6 or C Maj 6.
Major 6 and Major 7 chords can sometimes serve a similar role when you want to add color to a Major chord, but they have different sounds because the added note is different.
Major 6 chord formula
The formula for a Major 6 chord between each chord tone is 2 whole steps, then 1.5 whole steps, then a whole step. See the formula in the image below.
Start with C Major and identify its 1, 3, and 5. Add the 6th to make C 6. Then repeat the process with one other Major chord you know.
Major 6 chord chart examples
The chart below gives you the notes for Major 6 chords from every root. Use it to check a specific chord when needed.
| Major 6 chord | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Major 6 | C | E | G | A |
| D Major 6 | D | F# | A | B |
| E Major 6 | E | G# | B | C# |
| F Major 6 | F | A | C | D |
| G Major 6 | G | B | D | E |
| A Major 6 | A | C# | E | F# |
| B Major 6 | B | D# | F# | G# |
| Db Major 6 | Db | F | Ab | Bb |
| Eb Major 6 | Eb | G | Bb | C |
| Gb Major 6 | Gb | Bb | Db | Eb |
| Ab Major 6 | Ab | C | Eb | F |
| Bb Major 6 | Bb | D | F | G |
How to read the chord charts
For the charts below:
- The top horizontal line of the chord chart represents the high E string and the bottom horizontal line represents the low E string.
- The vertical lines separate each fret.
- The numbers in the blue dots tell you which fingers to use on the fretting hand.
- The letters on the right of the charts tell you what notes you are playing on each string.
- Circles on the left represent open strings.
- Red X means to avoid that string.
You can check this link for more on how to read guitar notation symbols.
Common Major 6 chords
Start with one of the movable shapes below. Once you can form it comfortably, move the same shape to a few different roots and name each chord as you play it.
The later drop 2 shapes give you additional inversions when you want more voicing options.
Shape 1: Major 6 chord – 6th string
Shape 2: Major 6 chord – 6th string variation
Shape 3: Major 6 chord on the 5th string
Choose one Major 6 shape from this section and play it from three different roots, naming each chord before you play. Then return to one root and compare the Major, Major 6, and Major 7 versions. Listen to how the added note changes the sound of each chord.
The following sections show Major 6 drop 2 inversions across several string sets. Start with one string set and follow the different inversions before exploring the remaining shapes.
Major 6 chords on the 6th string
These following Major 6 chords are drop 2 chords because the second highest note gets dropped by an octave.
Root position
1st inversion
2nd inversion
3rd inversion
Choose one Major 6 chord and play two of the inversions above. Listen to how the bass note and voicing change while the chord keeps the same four chord tones.
Once the first set feels comfortable, use the next two sections to find Major 6 voicings in other areas of the fretboard.
Major 6 chords on the 5th string
The following Major 6 chords are the same as the four previous ones except starting on the 5th string.
Root position
1st inversion
2nd inversion
3rd inversion
The note on the 1st string here fits with the chord so we can add it as well.
Easily look up guitar chords with the Essential Guitar Chords Chart!
This chart covers how to play:
- Major chords
- Minor chords
- Major 7 chords
- Minor 7 chords
- Dominant chords
- Half diminished chords
- Diminished chords
- Chords starting on all (12) root notes
- Over 80+ chords!
Major 6 chords on the 4th string
And here are the same drop 2 chord shapes starting on the 4th string.
Root position
1st inversion
2nd inversion
3rd inversion
Once the basic Major 6 sound is familiar, you can add more color with notes such as the 9th or combine the 6th sound with a Major 7 chord.
Bonus: Major 6 chords with extensions
In extended-chord notation, the same pitch class as the 6th is often called the 13th when the chord is being treated as a 7th chord with upper extensions. To learn more about chord extensions, see this lesson on how to play jazz guitar chords.
Major 6/9 on the 6th string
The symbol 6/9 is used to add the 6th and 9th to a chord. This can also be written as a Major 6 (9). If we include the Major 7 note, we can call this chord Major 7 (9, 13).
Major 6/9 on the 5th string
If we include the Major 7 note, we can call this chord Major 7 (9, 13).
Major 7 (13) on the 6th string
If we include the 9th, we can also call this chord Major 7 (9, 13).
Major 7 (13) on the 5th string
Take a chord progression you already know and choose one Major chord in it. Play the progression once with the regular Major chord, then again with the Major 6 version. Compare the two and listen to how the added 6th changes the color without changing the basic Major sound.
Wrapping up
Major 6 chords add one note to a Major triad: the 6th degree. That gives you another color to use when a plain Major chord isn’t the only sound you want.
Start with one movable shape, use it from several roots, and compare Major, Major 6, and Major 7 sounds from the same root.
From there, the drop 2 inversions and 6/9 and Major 7(13) shapes in this lesson give you more voicing options across the fretboard.
Before continuing
You’re ready to continue when you can build a Major 6 chord from the formula 1, 3, 5, 6, play one movable Major 6 shape from several roots, and use it in place of a familiar Major chord to hear the change in color.
Next: Continue in the Mastery Roadmap to keep exploring chord extensions and jazz harmony.
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