Chord type
Minor 6th Chords on Piano
The minor 6th chord adds a major sixth to a minor triad, creating a bittersweet, nostalgic quality. It is the final step in the famous descending chromatic minor line and serves as the Dorian tonic chord in jazz.
Pick a key to hear and see it below. Each key opens a full reference entry with a keyboard diagram, audio, inversions, fingerings, and notation.
Featured key
C Minor 6th Chord
Notes: C - E♭ - G - A
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Open the full C Minor 6th Chord reference ›Formula: Root – Minor 3rd – Perfect 5th – Major 6th
Scale degrees: 1–♭3–5–6
Sound: Bittersweet, nostalgic, melancholic warmth
Symbol: m6 (Cm6, Dm6)
The descending chromatic line: Cm → CmMaj7 → Cm7 → Cm6. Stairway to Heaven and My Funny Valentine use this movement. Also note that Cm6 contains the same notes as Am7♭5. Context determines the name.
Minor 6th Chord in All 18 Keys
All 18 spellings, ♯ and ♭ keys listed separately.
C Minor 6th ChordNotes: C – E♭ – G – AC♯ Minor 6th ChordNotes: C♯ – E – G♯ – A♯D♭ Minor 6th ChordNotes: D♭ – F♭ – A♭ – B♭D Minor 6th ChordNotes: D – F – A – BD♯ Minor 6th ChordNotes: D♯ – F♯ – A♯ – B♯E♭ Minor 6th ChordNotes: E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – CE Minor 6th ChordNotes: E – G – B – C♯F Minor 6th ChordNotes: F – A♭ – C – DF♯ Minor 6th ChordNotes: F♯ – A – C♯ – D♯G♭ Minor 6th ChordNotes: G♭ – B♭♭ – D♭ – E♭G Minor 6th ChordNotes: G – B♭ – D – EG♯ Minor 6th ChordNotes: G♯ – B – D♯ – E♯A♭ Minor 6th ChordNotes: A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – FA Minor 6th ChordNotes: A – C – E – F♯A♯ Minor 6th ChordNotes: A♯ – C♯ – E♯ – F♯♯B♭ Minor 6th ChordNotes: B♭ – D♭ – F – GB Minor 6th ChordNotes: B – D – F♯ – G♯C♭ Minor 6th ChordNotes: C♭ – E♭♭ – G♭ – A♭