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.
1Exercise 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
Tip: The m6 sounds brighter and more resolved than the m7 - the raised 6th adds a melodic minor sweetness
2Exercise 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
Tip: Keep the rhythm gentle and relaxed - bossa nova should feel effortless, with the thumb handling bass notes
3Exercise 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
Tip: 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:
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Discover the m7b5 chord - the minor sixth's enharmonic twin.