The C♭ Minor 6th chord is a four-note chord made up of C♭, E♭♭, G♭, and A♭. It is built from a root, minor third, perfect fifth, and major sixth.
Construction
C♭ Minor 6th = Root + Minor 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 6th = C♭ · E♭♭ · G♭ · A♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| C♭ | Root | 1 |
| E♭♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| G♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| A♭ | Major 6th | 6 |
C♭ Minor 6th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | C♭ – E♭♭ – G♭ – A♭ |
| 1st Inversion | E♭♭ – G♭ – A♭ – C♭ |
| 2nd Inversion | G♭ – A♭ – C♭ – E♭♭ |
| 3rd Inversion | A♭ – C♭ – E♭♭ – G♭ |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the C♭ Minor 6th is the tonic (i) chord of Cb Minor, which shares the signature of its relative major, D Major — 2 sharps (F♯, C♯).
F♯C♯
Order of sharps
Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.
F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯
Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Chords in the Key of C♭ Minor
These are the triads built on each degree of the C♭ minor 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♭ Minor 6th — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the C♭ Minor 6th chord on piano?
The C♭ Minor 6th chord contains the notes C♭ – E♭♭ – G♭ – A♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Cb Minor 6th chord?
Cbm6 is the enharmonic equivalent of Bm6. Same notes.
How does Cbm6 differ from Cbm7?
Cbm6 has major sixth, Cbm7 has minor seventh.
How is Cbm6 used?
Musicians use Bm6 in practice.
Is Cbm6 the same as Abm7b5?
Same notes enharmonically, different root.
What songs use Minor 6th?
Sound identical regardless of spelling.
Do I need both spellings?
Learn Bm6 and understand the enharmonic relationship.