Piano chord
Cm6C minor sixth
- C1
- E♭♭3
- G5
- A6
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 9semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-4-5
How to play Cm6 on piano
- Find C: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on C, 2 on E♭, 4 on G, 5 on A.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on C, 4 on E♭, 2 on G, 1 on A.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · C – E♭ – G – A
1st inversion · E♭ – G – A – C
2nd inversion · G – A – C – E♭
3rd inversion · A – C – E♭ – G
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Cm6 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on C; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: CRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: E♭Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: GRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: ARight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
Cm6 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays C an octave lower, the right hand plays C–E♭–G–A.
Cm6 on other instruments
About the Cm6 chord
To build C minor sixth, take these 4 notes from the root up: C (1), E♭ (♭3), G (5), A (6). A minor sixth: a minor triad plus the major sixth. Dark and mysterious, common in jazz, tango and film music.
The keys are C – E♭ – G – A, counted up from C; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 9 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold Cm6, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of Cm6 the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is E♭ (E♭–G–A–C). In the 2nd inversion the bass is G (G–A–C–E♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is A (A–C–E♭–G).
Compared with Cm, Cm6 has one more note, A.
Questions
What notes are in the Cm6 chord?
Cm6 (C minor sixth) has 4 notes: C (1), E♭ (♭3), G (5), A (6).
How many inversions does Cm6 have?
Cm6 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (C–E♭–G–A); 1st inversion (E♭–G–A–C); 2nd inversion (G–A–C–E♭); 3rd inversion (A–C–E♭–G).
What is the difference between Cm6 and Cm?
Compared with Cm, Cm6 has one more note, A.
Can I play Cm6 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Cm6 spans 9 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.