Piano chord
C♯m6C sharp minor sixth
- C♯1
- E♭3
- G♯5
- A♯6
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 9semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-4-5
How to play C♯m6 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.
C♯m6 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of C♯m6. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has C♯ at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: C♯Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: ERight hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: G♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: A♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
C♯m6 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays C♯ an octave lower, the right hand plays C♯–E–G♯–A♯.
C♯m6 on other instruments
About the C♯m6 chord
The 4 notes of C sharp minor sixth are 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.
Put your thumb on C♯ and count up: C♯ – E – G♯ – A♯. The whole chord spans 9 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers C♯m6 without stretching.
The inversions of C♯m6 keep the same notes in a new order. 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♯).
Add A♯ to C♯m and you have C♯m6.
Questions
What notes are in the C♯m6 chord?
C♯m6 (C sharp minor sixth) has 4 notes: C♯ (1), E (♭3), G♯ (5), A♯ (6).
How many inversions does C♯m6 have?
C♯m6 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 C♯m6 and C♯m?
Add A♯ to C♯m and you have C♯m6.
Can I play C♯m6 with one hand?
Yes. In root position C♯m6 spans 9 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.