A minor 6 chord starts with a minor triad and adds the natural 6th degree. That extra note gives you a different color from a regular minor or minor 7 chord.
In this lesson, you’ll learn the minor 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 minor chord and add its natural 6th degree. Then learn one movable minor 6 shape and compare the minor, minor 6, and minor 7 versions of the same chord.
Minor 6 chord theory
A minor 6 chord contains the chord tones 1, b3, 5, and 6. It starts with a minor triad and adds the natural 6th degree.
For example, C minor contains C, Eb, and G. Add A, the 6th degree, and you get C minor 6: C, Eb, G, and A.
You may see this written as Cm 6, C min 6, or C minor 6.
A minor 6 and minor 7 chord share the root, b3, and 5. The difference is the final note:
- Minor 6: 1, b3, 5, 6
- Minor 7: 1, b3, 5, b7
Minor 6 and minor 7 chords can sometimes fill a similar role, but the natural 6 and b7 give each chord a noticeably different sound. Comparing them in context is the best way to hear which one fits.
Minor 6 chord formula
The formula for a minor 6 chord between each chord tone is 1.5 whole steps, then 2 whole steps, then 1 whole step. See the formula in the image below.
Start with C minor and identify the 1, b3, and 5. Add the 6th to make Cm 6. Then repeat the process with one other minor chord you know.
Minor 6 chord chart examples
The chart below gives you the notes for minor 6 chords from every root. Use it when you need to check a specific chord.
| Minor 6 chord | 1 | b3 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C minor 6 | C | Eb | G | A |
| D minor 6 | D | F | A | B |
| E minor 6 | E | G | B | C# |
| F minor 6 | F | Ab | C | D |
| G minor 6 | G | Bb | D | E |
| A minor 6 | A | C | E | F# |
| B minor 6 | B | D | F# | G# |
| Db minor 6 | Db | E | Ab | Bb |
| Eb minor 6 | Eb | Gb | Bb | C |
| Gb minor 6 | Gb | A | Db | Eb |
| Ab minor 6 | Ab | B | Eb | F |
| Bb minor 6 | Bb | Db | F | G |
Common Minor 6 chords
Start with one of the movable minor 6 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 sections give you more inversions and string-set options when you want to expand your voicing choices.
Shape 1: Minor 6 chord – 6th string
Shape 2: Minor 6 chord – 6th string variation
Shape 3: Minor 6 chord – 5th string
Choose one minor 6 shape from this section and play it from three different roots. Then return to one root and compare the minor, minor 6, and minor 7 versions. Listen specifically to the difference between the natural 6 and b7 and how each changes the sound of the chord.
The following sections show minor 6 drop 2 inversions across several string sets. Start with one string set and follow the different inversions before exploring the remaining shapes.
Minor 6 chords on the 6th string
The following minor 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 minor 6 chord and play two of the inversions above. Notice how the bass note and voicing change while the same four chord tones remain.
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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!
Once the first set feels comfortable, use the next two sections to find minor 6 voicings in other areas of the fretboard.
Minor 6 chords on the 5th string
The following minor 6 chords are the same as the four previous ones except starting on the 5th string.
Root position
1st inversion
2nd inversion
3rd inversion
Minor 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 minor 6 sound is familiar, you can add more color with extensions such as the 9th or combine the natural 6 sound with a minor 7 chord.
Bonus: Minor 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.
Minor 7 (13) – 6th string
Minor 7 (13) – 5th string
Minor 6 (9) chord
Take a progression that contains a minor chord. Play it once with the regular minor chord, then with the minor 7 version, and finally with minor 6. Listen to how each choice changes the color while the basic minor quality remains.
Wrapping up
Minor 6 chords add the natural 6th to a minor triad, giving you another color beyond regular minor and minor 7 sounds.
Start with one movable shape, use it from several roots, and compare minor, minor 6, and minor 7 chords from the same root.
From there, the drop 2 inversions and minor 6 extensions in this lesson give you more voicing options across the fretboard.
Before continuing
You’re ready to continue when you can build a minor 6 chord from the formula 1, b3, 5, 6, play one movable shape from several roots, and hear the difference between minor, minor 6, and minor 7 chords in a musical setting.
Next: Continue in the Mastery Roadmap to keep exploring chord extensions and jazz harmony.
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