Learn › C6 Chord on Piano (C Major 6th)

New Released in April 2026

C6 Chord on Piano (C Major 6th)

C6, the C major 6th chord, is the major triad C plus the 6th, A, one whole step above the fifth. Its notes on the piano are C, E, G and A. In one phrase: warm and settled, a sweet ending chord.

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MIDI keyboard
Digital or acoustic piano
Guitar
Computer, phone or tablet

C6 C E G A

C6 in every position

Learn them in pairs: root position first, then the one that keeps the most notes still.

C6 C E G A

Root position: C E G A

C6 E G A C

1st inversion: E G A C

C6 G A C E

2nd inversion: G A C E

C6 A C E G

3rd inversion: A C E G

Fingering

Right hand	C E G A	1 2 3 5
Left hand	C E G A	5 3 2 1

Am7 A C E G

The chord hiding inside C6

C6 has exactly the same notes as Am7. Put C in the bass and it sounds like a major chord with a sweet 6th; put A in the bass and it is a minor seventh.

Am7

Building C6 from C

Every chord is a recipe of scale steps. For C6 the recipe is 1 3 5 6, counted from C.

Start chord: C

Note	Step	Interval	Keys from C
C	1	root	0
E	3	major 3rd	4
G	5	perfect 5th	7
A	6	major 6th	9

Make C6 automatic

Find C, then add the other notes one at a time: C, E, G and A.
Play C, then C6, then C again, and hear what the added 6th brings to the chord.
Alternate root position and 1st inversion, keeping shared notes still.
Last, meet C6 mixed with chords you already know, in an order you did not plan.

Come back to C6 tomorrow: short daily sessions beat one long one.

Keys and moves for C6

C6 is a home chord: it replaces C at the end of a song in C major.
It is also the IV chord in G major, a soft colour before going home.

Chords on C compared

One or two notes change the whole colour. Click a chord to open its page.

Chord	Notes	Formula
C	C E G	1 3 5
C6	C E G A	1 3 5 6
Cmaj7	C E G B	1 3 5 7
Cm	C Eb G	1 b3 5
Cm6	C Eb G A	1 b3 5 6
Cm7	C Eb G Bb	1 b3 5 b7

ChordRunner game screen with a chord symbol to play

Play C6 in a game

ChordRunner shows a chord symbol and you play it on a MIDI keyboard, a real piano through the microphone or the on-screen keys. Sixth chords come in the level "Sixth & Add Chords".

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Piano chord chart · Chord game · Learn chords

Common questions

What is C6 on the piano?

C6 is the C major 6th chord: C, E, G and A, the major triad C plus the 6th, A, one whole step above the fifth.

What is the difference between C6 and C?

C is C E G. To get C6, add A on top, one whole step above the fifth.

Where is C6 used?

C6 is a home chord: it replaces C at the end of a song in C major. It is also the IV chord in G major, a soft colour before going home.

Can I practise C6 with a MIDI keyboard or a real piano?

Yes. In ChordRunner a USB MIDI keyboard is detected automatically, and an acoustic or digital piano works through the microphone. The game checks that C, E, G and A sound together.

Your instrument is the controller.

ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.

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C6 Chord on Piano (C Major 6th)

C6 in every position

Fingering

The chord hiding inside C6

Building C6 from C

Make C6 automatic

Keys and moves for C6

Chords on C compared

Play C6 in a game

Common questions

What is C6 on the piano?

What is the difference between C6 and C?

Where is C6 used?

Can I practise C6 with a MIDI keyboard or a real piano?

Your instrument is the controller.

Keep learning

Piano Chord Chart: Every Chord in All 12 Keys

Extended Chords: 9ths, 11ths, 13ths

Cm6 Chord on Piano (C Minor 6th)

Chord Training That Feels Like a Game

Master All 12 Major Chords on Piano

Master All 12 Minor Chords on Piano