Minor Sixth Chords
Discover the bittersweet sophistication of minor sixth chords - the tonic minor of jazz, essential for bossa nova and film noir harmony.
Theory Fundamentals
What Are Minor Sixth Chords?
- •Definition: Four-note chords combining a minor triad with a major 6th
- •Formula: Root + Minor 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 6th (1-b3-5-6)
- •Interval Pattern: 3 semitones + 4 semitones + 2 semitones
- •Sound Quality: Bittersweet, sophisticated, nostalgic
- •Function: Tonic minor in jazz, melodic minor harmony
Musical Applications
- •Jazz: Tonic minor chord in jazz minor keys
- •Bossa Nova: Signature chord for Brazilian jazz
- •Film Noir: Dark, sophisticated underscore harmony
- •Swing: Classic big band minor voicings
Understanding Minor Sixth Chord Construction
Am6 Example
- • Root: A (1st degree)
- • Minor 3rd: C (b3rd degree)
- • Perfect 5th: E (5th degree)
- • Major 6th: F# (6th degree)
- • Result: Bittersweet, jazz-inflected minor
Interval Quality
- • Minor 3rd: Dark, emotional foundation
- • Perfect 5th: Stability and grounding
- • Major 6th: Brightness within minor context
- • No 7th: Lighter and more resolved than m7
- • Psychology: Nostalgic, bittersweet elegance
Scale Relationship
- • Derived from: Melodic minor scale (ascending)
- • Scale degrees: 1-b3-5-6 of melodic minor
- • Key insight: Am6 = F#m7b5 in first inversion
- • Equivalent: Half-diminished chord rearranged
- • Function: Stable minor tonic in jazz harmony
Essential Minor Sixth Voicings
Start Here
These fundamental open-position minor sixth voicings are the easiest way to begin playing m6 chords on guitar.
Am6
Notes: A-C-E-F#
Fingering: Based on Am shape, add F# on 1st string (2nd fret)
Use: Jazz tonic minor, bossa nova in A minor
Dm6
Notes: D-F-A-B
Fingering: Based on Dm shape, add B on 1st string (open)
Use: Jazz tonic minor, film noir harmony
Em6
Notes: E-G-B-C#
Fingering: Based on Em shape, add C# on 2nd string (2nd fret)
Use: Jazz minor voicings, swing era comping
Barre and Moveable Voicings
Level Up
These moveable shapes let you play minor sixth chords in any key across the fretboard.
Cm6 (barre)
Notes: C-Eb-G-A
Fingering: 6th string root barre shape with added 6th
Use: Any key using E-form barre, full voicing
Bm6
Notes: B-D-F#-G#
Fingering: Based on Bm barre shape with added 6th
Use: Jazz progressions, moveable form
F#m6
Notes: F#-A-C#-D#
Fingering: Based on F#m7 shape, raise b7 to 6th
Use: Jazz minor ii-V-i, bossa nova keys
Common Minor Sixth Chord Progressions
Jazz Minor Tonic (im6-iv7-V7)
Chord Sequence
Am6
im6
Dm7
iv7
E7
V7
Strumming Pattern
D - DU - D - DU
Jazz comping rhythm with syncopation
Tempo: 100-130 BPM
Feel: Smooth, sophisticated
Genre: Jazz, Bossa Nova
im6-iv7-V7 (Am6-Dm7-E7)
The minor sixth chord serves as a stable tonic in jazz minor keys, replacing the standard minor or minor seventh chord for a more refined, melodic minor sound.
Bossa Nova Pattern (im6-iim7b5-V7-im6)
Chord Sequence
Am6
im6
Bm7b5
iim7b5
E7
V7
Am6
im6
Strumming Pattern
D - U - DU - U
Bossa nova syncopated rhythm
Tempo: 120-140 BPM
Feel: Gentle, swaying
Genre: Bossa Nova, Brazilian Jazz
Bossa Nova (Am6-Bm7b5-E7-Am6)
Classic bossa nova progression where the minor sixth chord provides the warm, sophisticated tonic sound that defines the genre. Note the iim7b5 is the enharmonic equivalent of a m6 chord on a different root.
Film Noir Descent (im6-bVIMaj7-V7-im6)
Chord Sequence
Am6
im6
FMaj7
bVIMaj7
E7
V7
Am6
im6
Strumming Pattern
D - D - D - D
Slow, atmospheric arpeggiated strumming
Tempo: 70-90 BPM
Feel: Dark, mysterious, cinematic
Genre: Film Noir, Cinematic Jazz
Film Noir (Am6-FMaj7-E7-Am6)
The m6 chord's bittersweet quality perfectly captures the shadowy atmosphere of film noir soundtracks, descending through the flat sixth major seventh before resolving.
Swing Turnaround (im6-bVI7-iim7b5-V7)
Chord Sequence
Dm6
im6
Bb7
bVI7
Em7b5
iim7b5
A7
V7
Strumming Pattern
DU DU DU DU
Swing rhythm comping
Tempo: 130-160 BPM
Feel: Bouncy, driving
Genre: Swing, Big Band Jazz
Swing Turnaround (Dm6-Bb7-Em7b5-A7)
Classic swing-era turnaround using the minor sixth as a departure point, cycling through related harmony back to the dominant for resolution. Common in big band arrangements.
Practice Tips for Chord Progressions
Technique Focus
- • Practice the difference between m6 and m7 shapes on the same root
- • Focus on clean voicings and muting unused strings carefully
- • Use fingerpicking for bossa nova m6 comping patterns
- • Practice voice leading from m6 to its half-diminished equivalent
Musical Application
- • Use m6 as a jazz minor tonic instead of plain minor chords
- • Essential for authentic bossa nova and Brazilian jazz styles
- • Creates film noir atmosphere at slower tempos
- • Interchangeable with half-diminished chords for reharmonization
Famous Songs Using Minor Sixth Chords
Jazz & Bossa Nova Standards
- • "The Girl from Ipanema" - Antonio Carlos Jobim (Fm6 as tonic minor)
- • "Black Orpheus (Manha de Carnaval)" - Luiz Bonfa (Am6 throughout)
- • "My Funny Valentine" - Rodgers & Hart (Cm6 opening tonic)
- • "Round Midnight" - Thelonious Monk (Ebm6 jazz voicings)
- • "Blue in Green" - Miles Davis (Dm6 color chord)
Film Scores, Pop & Classic Recordings
- • "Cry Me a River" - Julie London (Cm6 opening vamp)
- • "Harlem Nocturne" - Earle Hagen (Gm6 noir theme)
- • "Pink Panther Theme" - Henry Mancini (Em6 motif)
- • "Fever" - Peggy Lee (Am6 hypnotic vamp)
- • "Chinatown" - Jerry Goldsmith (Fm6 film noir underscore)
Practice Exercises
Building Minor Sixth Skills
These exercises develop your ability to voice, hear, and apply minor sixth chords across musical contexts.
Exercise 1: Minor 6th vs Minor 7th Comparison
Pattern: Am6 - Am7 - Dm6 - Dm7 - Em6 - Em7
Alternate between minor sixth and minor seventh on the same root to train your ear to the subtle but important difference in color
The m6 sounds brighter and more resolved than the m7 - the raised 6th adds a melodic minor sweetness
Exercise 2: Bossa Nova Comping Pattern
Pattern: Am6 (2 bars) - Bm7b5 (1 bar) - E7 (1 bar)
Practice a classic bossa nova syncopated rhythm using the ii-V-i in A minor with m6 as the tonic chord
Keep the rhythm gentle and relaxed - bossa nova should feel effortless, with the thumb handling bass notes
Exercise 3: m6 and Half-Diminished Equivalents
Pattern: Am6 then F#m7b5, Dm6 then Bm7b5, Em6 then C#m7b5
Play each minor sixth chord, then revoice the same four notes as its enharmonic half-diminished equivalent to hear the inversion relationship
Same four notes, different bass note - understanding this unlocks advanced reharmonization and substitution possibilities
Advanced Minor Sixth Concepts
The m6 / Half-Diminished Relationship
- • Am6 (A-C-E-F#) = F#m7b5 (F#-A-C-E) rearranged:
- • Every m6 chord is a half-diminished chord in first inversion:
- • Dm6 (D-F-A-B) = Bm7b5 (B-D-F-A) rearranged:
- • Jazz players exploit this equivalence to find new voicings on familiar shapes:
- • This relationship is the key to understanding melodic minor harmony:
Minor Sixth in Melodic Minor Harmony
- • Melodic minor ascending: 1-2-b3-4-5-6-7
- • The m6 chord is the tonic (first degree) of melodic minor:
- • Jazz minor = melodic minor ascending used in both directions:
- • Contains both major 6th and major 7th over a minor triad:
- • Foundation for altered dominants, lydian dominant, and superlocrian scales:
Continue Your Chord Journey
Now that you understand minor sixth chords, explore the related chord types that connect to this sophisticated corner of harmony.
Sixth Chords
Explore major sixth chords and their warm, jazzy applications.
Learn sixth chords →Minor Seventh Chords
Compare the smooth minor seventh with the brighter minor sixth.
Learn minor sevenths →Half-Diminished Chords
Discover the m7b5 chord - the minor sixth's enharmonic twin.
Learn half-diminished →