Minor Sixth Chords

Let’s look at how to play a D flat minor 6 chord on the piano. We’ll also learn the pattern for building any other minor sixth chord.

What Are Minor Sixth Chords?

Minor sixth chords are minor chords with an added note. The added note is the sixth note of the matching major scale.

To build a minor sixth chord, we’ll start by converting a major chord into a minor chord. We can build a major chord using the first, third, and fifth notes of the matching major scale. Then we’ll take the major chord and convert it into a minor chord by lowering the middle note 1/2 step.

Then to convert the minor chord into a minor 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 35-page PDF! Chords are sorted both by their root note and type.

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How to Play a D Flat Minor 6 Chord

To build a D flat minor sixth chord, we’ll start by converting a D flat major chord into a D flat minor chord. We can build a D flat major chord using the first, third and fifth notes of the D flat major scale: D♭ – F – A♭. Then we’ll convert the D flat major chord into a D flat minor chord by lowering the middle note 1/2 step: D♭ – F♭ – A♭

You may be wondering why we would call the middle note “F♭” instead of “E”. The reason is because when we build a minor chord, we’re taking a major chord – the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale – and lowering the third note 1/2 step. Since the third note of the D flat major scale is “F”, when we lower it 1/2 step, we label it as “F♭”.

Then we’ll add the sixth note of the D flat major scale to the chord: B♭

So to play a D flat minor 6 chord, we’ll play:

D♭ – F♭ – A♭ – B♭

We can use this knowledge to build any other minor sixth chord. We’ll first build a minor chord by taking the matching major chord and lowering the middle note 1/2 step. Then we’ll add the sixth note of the matching major scale to the chord.

Other Chord Types

Some of the other chord types we can learn are:

Major
Minor
Augmented
Diminished
Second
Minor Second
Suspended
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh
Minor Seventh
Major Seventh
Ninth
Minor Ninth
Major Ninth

Conclusion

Now you know how to play a D flat minor 6 chord on the piano, and you can use this knowledge to build any other minor sixth chord!

Using chords to learn the piano is a wonderful way to enjoy music. Chords help us see and understand the piano in terms of scales and patterns. When we understand the notes of the scale, and how those notes are used to build different chords, and how those scales and chords are built using patterns that can be applied in any key, then a new world of opportunity opens up at the piano!

I hope you enjoy using these chords and patterns in your own music!