Cm6 chord on electric guitar
Cm6 is the minor sixth chord: C, Eb, G and A (1–b3–5–6). On electric guitar, the diagram shape is x 3 1 2 1 3, with C in the bass.
On the electric guitar a chord needs only a few clear notes — the amp sustains them and fills the space, so you mute the strings you are not playing and let the tone carry the rest. In this Cm6 voicing the bass is C and the shape runs from fret 1 to 3. Plugged into an amp, each chord sustains for as long as you hold it, and the tone — clean or driven — shapes the whole sound.
Notes and formula of Cm6
Notes in Cm6: C – Eb – G – AFormula: 1 – b3 – 5 – 6In 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.
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.
See also
Part of the Sixths family.