What Is a Minor 6th Chord?
A minor 6th chord is a minor triad with an added major 6th interval above the root. It combines the darkness of the minor third with the brightness of the major 6th — creating a bittersweet, emotionally complex sound.
The minor 6th is one of the most distinctive chords in music. The minor third pulls down, the major 6th pulls up — the chord sits in a state of beautiful tension. It doesn't want to resolve like a dominant chord, but it doesn't sound fully at rest either.
How to Build a Minor 6th Chord
Formula
Root + Minor 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 6th
Semitones: 0 — 3 — 7 — 9
Example: C Minor 6th
- C (root)
- E♭ (3 semitones up = minor third)
- G (7 semitones up = perfect fifth)
- A (9 semitones up = major sixth)
Notation: Written as Cm6 or Cmin6. The "6" always means major 6th, even in minor chords.
All 12 Minor 6th Chords
| Chord | Root | Minor 3rd | Perfect 5th | Major 6th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cm6 | C | E♭ | G | A |
| Gm6 | G | B♭ | D | E |
| Dm6 | D | F | A | B |
| Am6 | A | C | E | F# |
| Em6 | E | G | B | C# |
| Bm6 | B | D | F# | G# |
| F#m6 | F# | A | C# | D# |
| Fm6 | F | A♭ | C | D |
| B♭m6 | B♭ | D♭ | F | G |
| E♭m6 | E♭ | G♭ | B♭ | C |
| A♭m6 | A♭ | C♭ | E♭ | F |
| D♭m6 | D♭ | F♭ | A♭ | B♭ |
The Sound of a Minor 6th Chord
Dark, bittersweet, complex, melancholic but colourful, mysterious.
The minor 6th chord has a unique sound: darker than a major 6th but richer than a plain minor triad. The major 6th above the minor third creates a clash that many composers find irresistible — it sounds both sad and beautiful at the same time.
You hear minor 6th chords in tango, film noir soundtracks, 1940s jazz, and anywhere music needs emotional complexity without full resolution.
Minor 6th vs. Dominant 7th
Like the major 6th and minor 7th relationship, the minor 6th has an interesting enharmonic link. Cm6 (C E♭ G A) contains the same notes as Am7♭5 in certain voicings — showing how closely related 6th chords and 7th chords are in jazz harmony.
How to Use Minor 6th Chords
1. As a tonic minor chord: Use Cm6 where you'd use Cm for added colour and sophistication. Common in jazz and bossa nova.
2. In tango and film music: The minor 6th is a signature sound of tango. It captures the genre's emotional push-pull perfectly.
3. As a passing chord: Move from a minor triad to a minor 6th to add motion without changing the root.
4. In jazz ballads: Minor 6th chords create lush, emotionally sophisticated textures in slow jazz.
Free: Chord Ear Training Cheat Sheet
Train your ear to hear the bittersweet quality of minor 6th chords.