What notes are in an A6 chord?

A6 contains four notes: A (root), C♯ (major third), E (perfect fifth), and F♯ (major sixth).

How do you play A6 on guitar?

A closed-position A6 voicing: A (open 5th string), F♯ (2nd fret 4th string), A (2nd fret 3rd string), C♯ (2nd fret 2nd string), open high E. Many other voicings exist — A6 is one of the more versatile chords on guitar.

Is A6 the same as F♯ minor 7?

Enharmonically yes — same four pitches. A6 has A as root (major tonic); F♯m7 has F♯ as root (minor 7th).

Many country and rockabilly tunes in A use A6 as a tonic. Jazz ballads in A often resolve to A6 at final cadences. Bossa-nova standards in A use A6 throughout.

A major 6 chord — notes, intervals, and practice

A6 — A, C♯, E, F♯ — is an A major triad with an added major sixth. The chord is a guitar favourite because the open A string makes A-rooted 6 voicings ring fully. It's enharmonic to F♯ minor 7. Country, folk, and rockabilly in A use A6 constantly.

Intervals

The A major 6 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:

A→C#major 3rd4 semitones
C#→Eminor 3rd3 semitones
E→F#major 2nd2 semitones

On the keyboard

Each note of the A major 6 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.

On the guitar

One voicing of the A major 6 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.

Common mistakes

A6 has F♯ as its sixth — a half-step lower than Amaj7 (which has G♯). On guitar, the open A6 voicing replaces the standard A shape's top-string finger with an open string or barre to grab F♯ on the 2nd fret of the 4th string.

In context

A6 is the I chord in A major (often used as a softer alternative to Amaj7). Country and rockabilly in A use A6 as a primary tonic; jazz uses it at final cadences. The Beatles' "If I Fell" (in D major but with A-rooted excursions) uses A6-related voicings.

Drill it

The A major 6 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.

Open the Chord Trainer →Or try today's Etudle puzzle

Frequently asked

What notes are in an A6 chord?: A6 contains four notes: A (root), C♯ (major third), E (perfect fifth), and F♯ (major sixth).
How do you play A6 on guitar?: A closed-position A6 voicing: A (open 5th string), F♯ (2nd fret 4th string), A (2nd fret 3rd string), C♯ (2nd fret 2nd string), open high E. Many other voicings exist — A6 is one of the more versatile chords on guitar.
Is A6 the same as F♯ minor 7?: Enharmonically yes — same four pitches. A6 has A as root (major tonic); F♯m7 has F♯ as root (minor 7th).
What pieces use A6?: Many country and rockabilly tunes in A use A6 as a tonic. Jazz ballads in A often resolve to A6 at final cadences. Bossa-nova standards in A use A6 throughout.