C major 6th chord

Playing it

On guitar, C6 has an open-position shape, x32210, using four fingers alongside the open strings. Don’t strum the low E string.

On piano, C6 sits entirely on white keys.

On ukulele, C6 needs no fingers at all: the four open strings — G, C, E and A — spell it out.

Related chords

C6 contains exactly the same notes as Am7. Which name fits depends on which note is in the bass and what key you’re in.

Move a single note and C6 becomes a different chord: drop the A for C, raise A to B♭ for C7, swap A for B for Cmaj7 and lower E to E♭ for Cm6.