What notes are in an F6 chord?

F6 contains four notes: F (root), A (major third), C (perfect fifth), and D (major sixth).

Is F6 the same as D minor 7?

Enharmonically yes — same four pitches. F6 has F as root (major tonic); Dm7 has D as root (minor 7th).

How is F6 different from F7?

F6 has D (major sixth — a stable, consonant note); F7 has E♭ (minor seventh — a tense, dominant-functioning note). F6 sits stably as a tonic; F7 pulls toward B♭.

"Girl from Ipanema" (in F major) often uses F6 at final cadences. Many F-major jazz standards resolve to F6 as a final-tonic chord. Bossa-nova in F also leans on F6 voicings.

F major 6 chord — notes, intervals, and practice

F6 — F, A, C, D — is an F major triad with an added major sixth. All four notes are naturals, making F6 one of the cleanest 6-chord spellings. The chord is enharmonic to D minor 7 — same four pitches — and is a staple jazz tonic for F major progressions.

Intervals

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

F→Amajor 3rd4 semitones
A→Cminor 3rd3 semitones
C→Dmajor 2nd2 semitones

On the keyboard

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

On the guitar

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

Common mistakes

F6 has D natural as its sixth — a half-step lower than Fmaj7 (which has E natural). Don't confuse F6 with F7 (which has E♭ as a minor 7th); the 6 sits a step lower than the 7. On guitar, F6 is often a partial barre or a 4-string voicing avoiding the full F barre.

In context

F6 is the I chord in F major (often used as a softer alternative to Fmaj7). Many jazz standards in F major resolve to F6 at the end ("Girl from Ipanema" voicings sometimes end on F6). The chord also serves as the IV in C major (giving a slightly lydian flavour).

Drill it

The F 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.

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Frequently asked

What notes are in an F6 chord?: F6 contains four notes: F (root), A (major third), C (perfect fifth), and D (major sixth).
Is F6 the same as D minor 7?: Enharmonically yes — same four pitches. F6 has F as root (major tonic); Dm7 has D as root (minor 7th).
How is F6 different from F7?: F6 has D (major sixth — a stable, consonant note); F7 has E♭ (minor seventh — a tense, dominant-functioning note). F6 sits stably as a tonic; F7 pulls toward B♭.
What pieces use F6?: "Girl from Ipanema" (in F major) often uses F6 at final cadences. Many F-major jazz standards resolve to F6 as a final-tonic chord. Bossa-nova in F also leans on F6 voicings.