Piano chord

C Major 6th Piano Chord (C6)

The C Major 6th chord on piano is made of the notes C, E, G and A. Warm and nostalgic. Popular in jazz and older pop music.

C Major 6th chord on a piano keyboard: C, E, G, A C4C5 C E G A

C6 C – E – G – A

Tap any key to hear it.

Name any chord from its keys in the chord finder →

What notes are in C Major 6th?

4 notes, built 1 – 3 – 5 – 6 up from C.

Notes
C – E – G – A
Formula
1 – 3 – 5 – 6
Semitones from the root
0 – 4 – 7 – 9
Symbol
C6
Chord type
Major 6th, 4 notes

How to play C Major 6th on piano

  • Right hand: C (1), E (2), G (3), A (5). Fingers 1 – 2 – 3 – 5, thumb on C.
  • Left hand: C (5), E (3), G (2), A (1). Fingers 5 – 3 – 2 – 1, little finger on C.

Fingers are numbered 1 (thumb) to 5 (little finger) on both hands.

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C Major 6th inversions

Each inversion puts a different note of the chord in the bass. Written as a slash chord: C6/E, C6/G, C6/A.

C Major 6th root position on piano: C, E, G, A C E G A
Root position C6 C – E – G – A RH 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 · LH 5 – 3 – 2 – 1
C Major 6th 1st inversion on piano: E, G, A, C E G A C
1st inversion C6/E E – G – A – C RH 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 · LH 5 – 3 – 2 – 1
C Major 6th 2nd inversion on piano: G, A, C, E G A C E
2nd inversion C6/G G – A – C – E RH 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 · LH 5 – 3 – 2 – 1
C Major 6th 3rd inversion on piano: A, C, E, G A C E G
3rd inversion C6/A A – C – E – G RH 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 · LH 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

Progressions with C Major 6th

Press play: the chords move across the keyboard as they sound, voiced so your hand barely moves.

Pop progression

in C major

  1. I6 C6
  2. V G
  3. vi Am
  4. IV F
Pop progression in C major: C6, G, Am, F C E G A

Three-chord classic

in G major

  1. I G
  2. IV6 C6
  3. V D
  4. I G
Three-chord classic in G major: G, C6, D, G B D G

Can you find C Major 6th?

Tap the notes on the keyboard, then check. Six chords, starting with this one.

1 / 6 Tap the notes of C Major 6th (C6)

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Any octave, any order. Each key you tap plays.

Practice keyboard: tap the notes of the chord

What key is C Major 6th in?

The keys whose scale contains every note of C6, with the chord’s Roman numeral in each.

Major keys

  • C majorI6
  • G majorIV6
  • F majorV6

Minor keys

  • A minorIII6
  • F minorV6 (harmonic minor)
  • E minorVI6
  • D minorVII6

C Major 6th chord FAQ

What notes are in the C Major 6th chord?

C Major 6th (C6) has 4 notes: C, E, G and A. Its formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – 6, counted up from C.

How do you play C Major 6th on the piano?

Put your right thumb on C and play C, E, G and A with fingers 1 – 2 – 3 – 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 – 3 – 2 – 1, little finger on C.

What are the inversions of C Major 6th?

1st inversion: E, G, A, C (C6/E). 2nd inversion: G, A, C, E (C6/G). 3rd inversion: A, C, E, G (C6/A).

What key is C Major 6th in?

C6 belongs to C major (I6), G major (IV6), F major (V6), A minor (III6), E minor (VI6) and D minor (VII6).

Other C chords

Major 6th chords on every root

Piano chord chart: all 264 chords Open C6 in the chord finder Free PDF chord chart Play it on the virtual piano