Piano chord
Fm6F minor sixth
- F1
- A♭♭3
- C5
- D6
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 9semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-4-5
How to play Fm6 on piano
- Find F: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on F, 2 on A♭, 4 on C, 5 on D.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on F, 4 on A♭, 2 on C, 1 on D.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · F – A♭ – C – D
1st inversion · A♭ – C – D – F
2nd inversion · C – D – F – A♭
3rd inversion · D – F – A♭ – C
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Fm6 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on F; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: FRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: A♭Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: CRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: DRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
Fm6 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays F an octave lower, the right hand plays F–A♭–C–D.
Fm6 on other instruments
About the Fm6 chord
To build F minor sixth, take these 4 notes from the root up: F (1), A♭ (♭3), C (5), D (6). A minor sixth: a minor triad plus the major sixth. Dark and mysterious, common in jazz, tango and film music.
The keys are F – A♭ – C – D, counted up from F; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 9 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold Fm6, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of Fm6 the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is A♭ (A♭–C–D–F). In the 2nd inversion the bass is C (C–D–F–A♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is D (D–F–A♭–C).
Compared with Fm, Fm6 has one more note, D.
Questions
What notes are in the Fm6 chord?
Fm6 (F minor sixth) has 4 notes: F (1), A♭ (♭3), C (5), D (6).
How many inversions does Fm6 have?
Fm6 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (F–A♭–C–D); 1st inversion (A♭–C–D–F); 2nd inversion (C–D–F–A♭); 3rd inversion (D–F–A♭–C).
What is the difference between Fm6 and Fm?
Compared with Fm, Fm6 has one more note, D.
Can I play Fm6 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Fm6 spans 9 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.