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Chord shapes

Am6 guitar chord

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Chord diagram

Shape 1 of 2

Open Am6 · Frets 0-2

Am6

123
E
B
G
D
Related chords

Shape difficulty

Intermediate

Main challenge: Keeping adjacent strings clear when several fretted notes sit tightly together on the same fret.

Chord tones

Root notes stay highlighted so the voicing reads faster at a glance.

A1E5Cb3F♯6
RootChord tone

Notes

Notes in A Minor 6

A Minor 6 uses A as the root, C as the minor third, E as the perfect fifth, and F♯ as the major sixth.

A

root

1

anchors the chord and gives the voicing its name.

C

minor third

b3

darkens the chord immediately by lowering the third.

E

perfect fifth

5

keeps the chord grounded with a stable upper anchor.

F♯

major sixth

6

adds warmth and movement without the sharper pull of a seventh.

Sound and feel

What A Minor 6 sounds like

A Minor 6 has a minor sound with an added lift.

Compared with a plain minor chord, the sixth makes the voicing feel less closed and a little more mobile.

Playing tips

How to play A Minor 6 on guitar

Root anchor

Find the root on the A string before you place the other fingers.

Setup

Set the fretted notes first, then confirm the open strings still ring before the full strum.

Strum path

Start the strum from the A string so the low E string stay out.

Open strings

Keep the A string clear; those open notes belong in the voicing.

Clearance

Keep each fingertip vertical so the adjacent strings stay separate.

Check

Pick through the strings once before you strum hard, and fix the first dull note you hear.

Theory

Why A Minor 6 works

Formula1 - b3 - 5 - 6

A Minor 6 uses the formula 1 - b3 - 5 - 6.

Compared with A Minor, A Minor 6 adds F♯ (6).

The minor third keeps the chord dark while the sixth adds motion and warmth above the basic triad.

Musical context

Where A Minor 6 commonly appears

A Minor 6 is easiest to place once you hear which same-root and related-key chords it connects to.

i6A minor

A Minor 6 can act as a tonic in minor-key writing when the harmony needs an extension without moving to minor 7.

jazzier minor color

A Minor 6 is more common in arranged, jazzy, or cinematic harmony than in early beginner chord books.

A minor chord

A Minor 6 usually makes the most sense as a richer version of the same root minor chord rather than as a completely separate beginner function.

Quick answers

FAQ about A Minor 6

Explore next

Related chords and next sounds

Compare simpler versions, related harmony, and matching scales.

Simpler and richer same-root versions

A Minor

Strip this color back to the simpler same-root version.

A Minor 7

Compare it with another same-root color that changes the feel without changing the note name.

Closely related chords

A Minor

Plain minor version on the same root for a simpler comparison.

A Minor 7

Related minor 7 color on the same root.

C Major

Relative major partner that often shares the same pitch collection.

Related scales and parent keys

A Natural Minor

Minor scale around the same root for hearing this as a tonic color.

C Major

Relative major scale that shares much of the same pitch material.

A Minor Pentatonic

Common lead-guitar minor option on the same root.

Keep exploring

A chords

Compare major, minor, seventh, suspended, power, and added-tone sounds on this root.

All chords

Browse more roots when you want a wider set of chord sounds.

Related scales

Hear which scales sit naturally around this chord sound.

Reference

Quick reference

Keep the notes, formula, and difficulty label in view while you practice.

Notes
A, C, E, and F♯
Formula
1 - b3 - 5 - 6
Main shape
open shape
Root string
A string
Featured difficulty
Intermediate

Same root

A chords

Compare this root across major, minor, suspended, seventh, power, and added-tone colors.