What notes are in an Fm6 chord?

Fm6 contains four notes: F (root), A♭ (minor third), C (perfect fifth), and D (major sixth).

Is Fm6 the same as D half-diminished?

Enharmonically yes — same four pitches. Fm6 has F as root (minor tonic); Dø has D as root (ii of C minor).

How is Fm6 different from Fm7?

Only the top note changes. Fm6 has D (major sixth); Fm7 has E♭ (minor seventh). The 6 sits a step lower than the m7.

When does Fm6 appear in jazz?

As a final tonic in F-minor ballads and as an enharmonic pivot via D half-diminished. Beethoven used related m6 colours in his "Appassionata" Sonata; jazz pianists from Bill Evans onward use Fm6 voicings throughout F-minor literature.

F minor 6 chord — notes, intervals, and practice

Fm6 — F, A♭, C, D — is an F minor triad with an added major sixth. The chord is the i6 of F minor and is enharmonic to D half-diminished. Beethoven's "Appassionata" Sonata uses related minor tonic colours; jazz uses Fm6 as a final cadence in F-minor tunes.

Intervals

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

F→Abminor 3rd3 semitones
Ab→Cmajor 3rd4 semitones
C→Dmajor 2nd2 semitones

On the keyboard

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

On the guitar

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

1F
♭3Ab
5C
6D

Common mistakes

Fm6 has D natural as its sixth — borrowed from F Dorian (which has D as the raised 6th of F natural minor). The chord is enharmonic to Dm7♭5; same four pitches, different harmonic function. On guitar, Fm6 is typically a 1st-fret E-shape barre with the standard m6 voicing adjustments.

In context

Fm6 is the i6 of F minor (often used as a final tonic in F-minor jazz). The cadence Gm7♭5 → C7 → Fm6 closes many F-minor tunes. "Stella by Starlight" passes through F-minor harmony at moments; Fm6 voicings appear at related cadential points.

Drill it

The F minor 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 Fm6 chord?: Fm6 contains four notes: F (root), A♭ (minor third), C (perfect fifth), and D (major sixth).
Is Fm6 the same as D half-diminished?: Enharmonically yes — same four pitches. Fm6 has F as root (minor tonic); Dø has D as root (ii of C minor).
How is Fm6 different from Fm7?: Only the top note changes. Fm6 has D (major sixth); Fm7 has E♭ (minor seventh). The 6 sits a step lower than the m7.
When does Fm6 appear in jazz?: As a final tonic in F-minor ballads and as an enharmonic pivot via D half-diminished. Beethoven used related m6 colours in his "Appassionata" Sonata; jazz pianists from Bill Evans onward use Fm6 voicings throughout F-minor literature.