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C♯m6

Character: dark, cool

  1. C♯Rtriad
  2. E♭3triad
  3. G♯5triad
  4. A♯6add
Open C♯m6 in the chord libraryDownload the C♯m6 chart (PDF)
Voicings

12 ways to play C♯m6

Every voicing sits inside one of the five CAGED shapes, low to high on the neck, with its octave doublings in grey.

  • Triad note
  • Substitute
  • Added
  • Anchored root
  • Bass
  • Doubling
CC shape 1st inversion C♯m6/E
1 2 3 4 5 R 6 ♭3 ♭3

Frets x x 2 3 2 0Notes E A♯ C♯Intervals ♭3 6 1Base triadC♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

CC shape Root position C♯m6
1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭3 R ♭3 R

Frets x 4 2 3 2 0Notes C♯ E A♯Intervals 1 ♭3 6Base triadC♯ minor, root position

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

CC shape 2nd inversion C♯m6/G♯
1 2 3 4 6 ♭3 R 5 ♭3 R

Frets 4 4 2 3 2 0Notes G♯ C♯ E A♯Intervals 5 1 ♭3 6Base triadC♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The 6th gets a string of its own.

AA shape 2nd inversion C♯m6/G♯
4 5 6 7 6 ♭3 R 5 R

Frets x 4 6 6 5 6Notes G♯ C♯ E A♯Intervals 5 1 ♭3 6Base triadC♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The 6th gets a string of its own.

AA shape Root position C♯m6
4 5 6 7 5 6 ♭3 R

Frets x x x 6 5 6Notes C♯ E A♯Intervals 1 ♭3 6Base triadC♯ minor, root position

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

AA shape 2nd inversion AnchoredC♯m6
3 4 5 6 R ♭3 6 5 R 5

Frets x 4 6 3 5 4Notes C♯ G♯ A♯ EIntervals 1 5 6 ♭3Base triadC♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The root drops to the string below the triad. The 6th takes the root’s string.

GG shape 1st inversion C♯m6/E
6 7 8 9 5 R 6 ♭3

Frets x 7 8 6 x xNotes E A♯ C♯Intervals ♭3 6 1Base triadC♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

GG shape Root position C♯m6
6 7 8 9 5 6 ♭3 R ♭3 5 ♭3

Frets 9 7 8 9 9 0Notes C♯ E A♯Intervals 1 ♭3 6Base triadC♯ minor, root position

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape 1st inversion C♯m6/E
9 10 11 12 5 R 6 ♭3 R

Frets 9 x x 9 11 9Notes E A♯ C♯Intervals ♭3 6 1Base triadC♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape Root position C♯m6
9 10 11 12 5 6 ♭3 R ♭3 5 R

Frets 9 11 11 9 11 0Notes C♯ E A♯Intervals 1 ♭3 6Base triadC♯ minor, root position

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape 2nd inversion C♯m6/G♯
9 10 11 12 6 ♭3 R 5 ♭3 R

Frets 9 11 11 9 11 0Notes G♯ C♯ E A♯Intervals 5 1 ♭3 6Base triadC♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The 6th gets a string of its own.

DD shape 2nd inversion C♯m6/A♯
1 2 3 4 5 ♭3 R 6

Frets x x x 3 2 0Notes A♯ C♯ EIntervals 6 1 ♭3Base triadC♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

The rules

The construction rules C♯m6 follows

  1. Start from a triad

    Root, 3rd and 5th, stacked in thirds. The 3rd makes it major or minor; the 5th makes it diminished or augmented when it moves.

  2. No 7th, no stack

    6, add9, add11 and 6/9 are a triad with a colour note, not a stack. Without a 7th the chord sounds open rather than jazzy.

  3. On guitar, something has to give

    Each extension takes the string of a triad note that matters less, usually the 5th, or gets a string of its own. The root and 3rd stay: they say what the chord is.

  4. The root can move down

    When an extension needs the root’s string, the root can drop to the string below the triad: an anchored voicing keeps the bass and frees a string on top.

All the rules, with examples, in the guide to the chord library.

Minor 6th in every key

More chords on C♯

C♯m6 chord questions

What notes are in C♯m6?

C♯m6 is spelled C♯ E G♯ A♯: C♯ is the root, E is the ♭3rd, G♯ is the 5th, A♯ is the 6th.

What is the formula of C♯m6?

1 ♭3 5 6. It is a C♯ minor triad with the 6th stacked on top.

How many ways can you play C♯m6 on guitar?

This page shows 12 voicings of C♯m6, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.