How to play Cm6: a minor 6th built on C, with 3 ways to play it, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common voicing: played at the first few frets. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 3 1 2 1 3 (x = not played). Fingers: x 3 1 2 1 4 (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky, T thumb).
This fingering is one good option, not the only one. If another finger feels more comfortable for your hand, or sets up the chord before or after more easily, use it.
| Note | C | Eb | G | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | b3 | 5 | 6 |
Cm6 is a minor 6th with C as its root. The full theoretical spelling is C, Eb, G, A. This voicing sounds every chord tone.
Cm6 is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 1 major key and 2 minor keys. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.
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Cm6 is spelled C, Eb, G, A: the root, minor 3rd, 5th, 6th. The common guitar voicing sounds every one of them.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 3 1 2 1 3 (x means the string is not played). Fingers: x 3 1 2 1 4 (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky, T thumb). Lay your 1st finger (index) across the D string to the B string at the 1st fret (a barre). Your 2nd finger (middle) goes on the G string at the 2nd fret. Your 3rd finger (ring) goes on the A string at the 3rd fret. Your 4th finger (pinky) goes on the high E string at the 3rd fret. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent. The fingering is one good option; if another finger feels more comfortable or suits the chords around it, use that.
Cm6 belongs to 3 keys: Bb major (the ii chord), G minor (the iv) and E minor (the vi, from the harmonic minor).
