C major sixth
C6 Piano Voicings
C6 replaces the major seventh with the sixth, giving a settled, swing-era sound. It is a common substitute for Cmaj7 as a final tonic chord.
Drill C6 in all 12 keysThe notes in C6
- C R
- E 3
- G 5
- A 6
C6 voicings on piano
Each voicing is the exact shape the trainer drills. Press play to hear it — as a block chord or rolled note by note.
Root Position
C · E · G · A R · 3 · 5 · 6
Shell Voicing
C · E · A R · 3 · 6
Rootless A
E · G · A · D 3 · 5 · 6 · 9
Rootless B
A · D · E · G 6 · 9 · 3 · 5
Where C6 fits in a ii-V-I
C6 replaces the major seventh with the sixth, giving a settled, swing-era sound. It is a common substitute for Cmaj7 as a final tonic chord.
The fastest way to internalise C6 is to drill it in context across all 12 keys until the shape is automatic.
Practice the full ii-V-I progressionC6 — frequently asked questions
What notes are in C6?
C6 contains C, E, G and A — root, major third, perfect fifth and major sixth.
When do you use C6 instead of Cmaj7?
C6 is often used as a final resting chord because the sixth sounds more stable and less tense than the major seventh of Cmaj7.