Piano chord
A6A sixth
- A1
- C♯3
- E5
- F♯6
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 9semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-4-5
How to play A6 on piano
- Find A: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on A, 3 on C♯, 4 on E, 5 on F♯.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on A, 3 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.
A6 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on A; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: ARight hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: C♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: ERight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 3rd inversionbass: F♯Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
A6 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays A an octave lower, the right hand plays A–C♯–E–F♯.
A6 on other instruments
About the A6 chord
To build A sixth, take these 4 notes from the root up: A (1), C♯ (3), E (5), F♯ (6). A major sixth: a major triad plus the sixth. Sweet and a little retro, used to end songs in swing and old pop.
The keys are A – C♯ – E – F♯, counted up from A; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 9 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold A6, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of A6 the root moves up and another note takes 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).
Compared with A, A6 has one more note, F♯.
Questions
What notes are in the A6 chord?
A6 (A sixth) has 4 notes: A (1), C♯ (3), E (5), F♯ (6).
How many inversions does A6 have?
A6 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 A6 and A?
Compared with A, A6 has one more note, F♯.
Can I play A6 with one hand?
Yes. In root position A6 spans 9 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.