Diatonic Sixth Chords & 6add9 Arpeggios For Guitar

First of all, let’s learn what a sixth chord is.

A sixth chord can be major or minor, this is a major or minor triad with an added sixth above the root.

A major sixth chord is a major triad (root, major 3rd, perfect 5th) plus a major sixth.

C6 chord :

Think of it like a regular C major chord with an A added on top.

Major 6 chords are found on the I, IV and V degrees of the harmonized major scale.

Here are some basic movable shell voicing shapes used in this lesson (no 5)

Sixth guitar chords

A minor 6 chord is a minor triad (root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th) plus a major sixth.

Cm6 chord :

Minor 6 chords are found on the degree ii of the major scale.

Here are some movable basic movable shell chord shapes (no 5)

Minor sixth guitar chords

This is a minor triad (root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th) plus a minor sixth.

Cmb6 chord =

Minor b6 chords are rarely employed and sometimes labelled as min#5.

They are found on the third (iii), sixth (vi) and seventh (vii) degree of the major scale.

Here are some basic shell voicing shapes (no 5).

Minor flat sixth guitar chords

Notice that in this lesson the voicings used have no fifth (no5), they are often referred to as shell chords or shell voicings.