Julie Swihart

Sixth Chords

Let’s look at how to play a C6 (“C sixth”) chord on the piano. We’ll also learn the pattern for building any sixth chord.

What Are Sixth Chords?

Sixth chords are major chords, with an added note. The added note is the sixth note of the matching major scale.

So to play a sixth chord, we’ll start with a major chord. Major chords are built using the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale. Then to convert the major chord into a sixth chord, we’ll add the sixth note of the matching major scale.

Chord Types Printable

Learn to play 17 types of piano chords using 12 different root notes with this 34-page PDF! Chords are sorted both by their root note (C, D, E, etc.) and type (major, minor, etc.).

Get the Printable

How to Play a C6 Chord on the Piano

To play a C6 chord on the piano, we’ll first play a C major chord (C – E – G, the first, third and fifth notes of the C major scale). Then we’ll add the sixth note of the C major scale, an A.

So to play a C6 chord, we’d play:

C – E – G – A

To play any sixth chord, play a major chord, and add the sixth note of the matching major scale!

Other Chord Types

Some of the other chord types you can learn are:

Major
Minor
Augmented
Diminished
Second
Minor second
Fifth
Suspended
Minor sixth
Seventh
Minor seventh
Major seventh
Ninth
Minor ninth
Major ninth

Conclusion

Sixth chords can add a nice, unexpected sound to a song, and now you know how to build a C6 chord – and any sixth chord – on the piano!