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Major and Minor Sixth Chords

Builds on Seventh Chords

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A 6th chord adds the note a major 6th above the root to a plain triad, instead of a 7th. It's a close cousin of seventh chords — same idea (stack one more note), different added interval.

Major 6th chords (major triad + a major 6th) have a bright, unresolved-but-comfortable sound, often used as a substitute for a major 7th chord to end a phrase without the major 7th's slightly 'dreamy' pull. Minor 6th chords (minor triad + a major 6th above the root) are common in jazz and film-score minor cadences. Add a 9th on top of a major 6th chord and you get the '6/9' chord — a lush, ambiguous, very common jazz-comping sound.

💡 Tip

Listen for the 6th chord's added note sitting a whole step below the octave — that's what distinguishes it from a 7th chord, whose added note sits closer to the octave above. Comparing 'distance from the top note to the octave above the root' is often the fastest way to tell 6ths and 7ths apart by ear.

⚠️ Common mistake

Confusing a major 6th chord with a minor 7th chord built a third lower — they share three notes in common (C6 = C-E-G-A, and Am7 = A-C-E-G, the same four pitches), so which note feels like 'home' matters more than the raw pitch content.

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📝 Summary

A 6th chord = triad + a major 6th above the root. Major 6th substitutes comfortably for major 7th; minor 6th is common in jazz/film minor cadences; 6/9 adds a 9th on top for a lush comping sound.

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