Major 6th Chords on Piano

The major 6th chord adds a major sixth to a major triad — creating a warm, sweet, vintage sound. Before major 7th chords became popular in the 1960s, the 6th chord was the default jazz tonic voicing throughout the swing era.

Formula: Root – Major 3rd – Perfect 5th – Major 6th
Scale degrees: 1–3–5–6
Sound: Warm, sweet, vintage, nostalgic
Symbol: 6, maj6 (C6, Cmaj6)

The vintage jazz sound: C6 contains the same notes as Am7 (C–E–G–A = A–C–E–G). In swing, country, Hawaiian, and doo-wop, the 6th chord is the standard way to end a song with warmth rather than the dreamier maj7.

Major 6th Chord in All 18 Keys