Major 6th Chords (Maj6) - Guitar Diagrams and Voicings

What are major 6th chords?

Major sixth chords are built with four notes. They consist of a root (1), a major third (3), a perfect fifth (5) and major sixth (6). This means to add the sixth note of the major scale to a major triad. For example, a major triad is made up of three stacked notes, ( C,E and G). To get a C maj6 chord you just have to add the sixth of C which is A.

C major 6	C	E	G	A
Intervals	1	3	3	6

What's the relative minor?

Major 6 chords contains the same notes as their relative minor seventh chords. The relative minor is exactly 3 semitones below. A minor seventh (Am7) is the relative minor of C major 6 (CMaj6).

A minor seventh	A	C	E	G
C major 6		C	E	G	A

Chord symbols and notations

Major 6 chords can be written M6 or simply 6. There are no differences between a CM6 and a C6 chord. Furthermore, it is important not to confuse with dominant 13th chords. These are dominant 7th chords with a 13th added. When a 6 is added to a tetrad chord (four notes), this one is considered as a 13th. The seventh converts the sixth as an extension.

C major 13	C	E	G	B	A
Intervals	1	3	3	7	6 (13)

Drop 2 major sixth chords | Guitar diagrams and voicings

You can build maj6 chords by lowering the 7th of any major 7 chord position. The following guitar diagrams and voicings are based on the drop 2 major 7th chord shapes with the 7th lowered by 2 semitones. In other words, the 7th is replaced by the 6th.

Root position	R	5	6	3
1st inversion (third in the bass)	3	6	R	5
2nd inversion (fifth in the bass)	5	R	3	6
3rd inversion (sixth in the bass)	6	3	5	R

Drop 2 major sixth guitar shapes - Basses on 6th string

Root position - Major 6 chord - Root in the bass - Bass on 6th string

Major 6 guitar chord diagram

1st inversion - Major 6 chord - Third in the bass - Bass on 6th string

Major 6 guitar chord shape bass on 6th string third in the bass

2nd inversion - Major 6 chord - Fifth in the bass - Bass on 6th string

Major 6 guitar chord position bass on 6th string fifth in the bass

3rd inversion - Major 6 chord - Sixth in the bass - Bass on 6th string

Major 6 guitar chord bass on sixth string six in the bass

Drop 2 major sixth guitar shapes - Basses on 5th string

Root position - Major 6 chord - Root in the bass - Bass on 5th string

Major 6 guitar chord bass on 5th string

1st inversion - Major 6 chord - Third in the bass - Bass on 5th string

Major 6 guitar chord bass on 5th string third in the bass

2nd inversion - Major 6 chord - Fifth in the bass - Bass on 5th string

Major 6 guitar chord diagram fifth string fifth in the bass

3rd inversion - Major 6 chord - Sixth in the bass - Bass on 5th string

Major 6 guitar chord bass on fifth string sixth in the bass

Drop 2 major sixth guitar shapes - Basses on 4th string

Root position - major 6 chord - Root in the bass - Bass on 4th string

Major 6 guitar chord bass on fourth string

1st inversion - Major 6 chord - Third in the bass - Bass on 4th string

Major 6 guitar chord bass on fourth string third in the bass

2nd inversion - Major 6 chord - Fifth in the bass - Bass on 4th string

Major 6 guitar chord bass on fourth string fifth in the bass

3rd inversion - Major 6 chord - Sixth in the bass - Bass on 4th string

Major 6 guitar chord 14

Related Arpeggios

An arpeggio is a chord whose notes are played on by one. Here are two shapes that will help you make the relation between major 6 chords and arpeggios. It is important to remember the location of the root in each shape. Then, try to play the chord and its related arpeggio.

Major 6 arpeggios guitar diagrams

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