C Major 6 Chord

What is the C Major 6 Chord?

Here's a fretboard view of the C Major 6 chord so you can see where each chord tone lives across the neck.

Notes and Arpeggios

Major 6th chords add the major 6th to a major triad, giving them a sweet, vintage quality that's less "jazzy" than a major 7th but more colorful than a straight triad. They're classic in jazz standards, swing, and Hawaiian music. The chord tones are: C, E, G, A. It's built from degrees 1, 3, 5, and 6.

How to Use It

This color is common in jazz standards and soul/R&B progressions. On bass, you usually outline this chord instead of strumming it: emphasize the root, 3rd, 5th, and 7th as the harmony requires, then use passing tones to connect back to the groove.

Play root and 5th on strong beats, then add the 3rd or 7th to make the chord quality clear. Use the highlights to spot where the same tone repeats across strings.