The C♭ Major 6 chord is a four-note chord made up of C♭, E♭, G♭, and A♭.
Construction
C♭ Major 6 = Root + Major 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 6th = C♭ · E♭ · G♭ · A♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| C♭ | Root | 1 |
| E♭ | Major 3rd | 3 |
| G♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| A♭ | Major 6th | 6 |
C♭ Major 6 Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | C♭ – E♭ – G♭ – A♭ |
| 1st Inversion | C♭ – E♭ – G♭ – A♭ |
| 2nd Inversion | C♭ – G♭ – A♭ – E♭ |
| 3rd Inversion | C♭ – A♭ – E♭ – G♭ |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the C♭ Major 6 is the tonic (I) chord of Cb Major, whose key signature has 7 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭).
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of C♭ Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the C♭ major scale:
Same Notes, Other Names
The notes C♭ – E♭ – G♭ – A♭ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:
C♭ Major 6 — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the C♭ Major 6 chord on piano?
The C♭ Major 6 chord contains the notes C♭ – E♭ – G♭ – A♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Cb Major 6 chord?
Cb6 is enharmonic equivalent of B6. Same notes.
How does Cb6 differ from Cbmaj7?
Cb6 has sixth, Cbmaj7 has seventh.
How is Cb6 used?
Musicians use B6 in practice.
What songs use Major 6th?
Sound identical regardless of spelling.
How does Cb6 differ from Abm7?
Same notes enharmonically, different root.
Can I substitute?
Yes — use B6.