Piano chord
Am6A minor sixth
- A1
- C♭3
- E5
- F♯6
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 9semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-4-5
How to play Am6 on piano
- Find A: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on A, 2 on C, 4 on E, 5 on F♯.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on A, 4 on C, 2 on E, 1 on F♯.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · A – C – E – F♯
1st inversion · C – E – F♯ – A
2nd inversion · E – F♯ – A – C
3rd inversion · F♯ – A – C – E
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Am6 inversions
Am6 can be played in 4 positions. In root position A is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: ARight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: CRight hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: ERight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: F♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
Am6 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays A an octave lower, the right hand plays A–C–E–F♯.
Am6 on other instruments
About the Am6 chord
A minor sixth has 4 notes: A (1), C (♭3), E (5), F♯ (6). A minor sixth: a minor triad plus the major sixth. Dark and mysterious, common in jazz, tango and film music.
On the keyboard, start from A and add the other notes above it: A – C – E – F♯. From the lowest to the highest key that is 9 semitones. That is less than an octave, so Am6 sits comfortably under one hand.
Each inversion of Am6 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is C (C–E–F♯–A). In the 2nd inversion the bass is E (E–F♯–A–C). In the 3rd inversion the bass is F♯ (F♯–A–C–E).
Am6 is Am with one note added: F♯.
Questions
What notes are in the Am6 chord?
Am6 (A minor sixth) has 4 notes: A (1), C (♭3), E (5), F♯ (6).
How many inversions does Am6 have?
Am6 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (A–C–E–F♯); 1st inversion (C–E–F♯–A); 2nd inversion (E–F♯–A–C); 3rd inversion (F♯–A–C–E).
What is the difference between Am6 and Am?
Am6 is Am with one note added: F♯.
Can I play Am6 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Am6 spans 9 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.