C♯ major 6th chord

Playing it

On guitar, the usual C♯6 shape is x4332x at the 2nd fret. It has no open strings, so it’s a movable shape — slide it along the neck for other major 6th chords. Don’t strum the low E and high E strings.

On piano, C♯6 has three black keys (C♯, G♯ and A♯) and one white key.

On ukulele the usual C♯6 shape is 1111, with the index finger barring all four strings at the 1st fret.

Related chords

C♯6 contains exactly the same notes as B♭m7. Which name fits depends on which note is in the bass and what key you’re in.

Move a single note and C♯6 becomes a different chord: drop the A♯ for C♯, raise A♯ to B for C♯7, swap A♯ for B♯ for C♯maj7 and lower E♯ to E for C♯m6.

Where you’ll hear it

Notice the E♯ in C♯6 (C♯ E♯ G♯ A♯): each note of the chord takes its own letter (C–E–G–A), so the major 3rd has to be written E♯ rather than F — the same key on a piano, spelled to fit the chord.