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Chord & Fret

C#m6 — minor sixth

Also written Dbm6 — the same chord, spelled the other way.

Notes in C#m6: C# – E – G# – A#Formula: 1 – b3 – 5 – 6

In the formula, the numbers count steps of the major scale starting from the note that names the chord; "b" lowers a half step, "#" raises one — and a slash names the bass note.

The minor sixth adds the major sixth to the minor triad. It has a particularly expressive and ambiguous color, between the minor tonic and the minor subdominant.

The same chord on all four instruments

C#m6, x 4 2 3 2 0C#m64132×C#EA#C#E
Guitar
C#m6, x 4 2 3 2 0C#m64132×C#EA#C#E
Electric guitar
C#m6, 2 3 2 2C#m61423EA#C#E
Cavaquinho
C#m6, 1 1 0 1C#m6123G#C#EA#
Ukulele

Where to use it: It works as an elegant closing chord in minor songs, when a plain minor feels like too little. It is also the movie-style surprise chord when borrowed into a major key — Fm6 showing up in a song in C, for instance.

This is just one shape of C#m6. In Chord & Fret, you check it note by note, playing any shape as an arpeggio; compare positions with their difficulty marked; and change the tuning — the shape rewrites itself. Start free. Unlock everything with Pro. Plays offline.

See the whole neck in Chord & Fret →

Part of the Sixths family.

Other chords in this family

C#6C#6/9C#m6/9

See all chord types and qualities →