A minor sixth chord is a very typical sounding chord that, because of having a minor third and a major sixth, has a melancholic feel. It’s created by combining a minor triad with an added major sixth interval.
TIP: Scroll down below to transpose this chord in any key!
Usage
The minor sixth chord can be used in a variety of situation to give extra color to your minor chord. Mostly commonly when played on the second degree (dorian) of major. For example: as Dm6 in the key of C. It is also widely used as molldur (minor major) on the fourth degree of major:
| C % | F % | Fm6 % | C % |
A more advanced way could be to use it as melodic minor. This is because that scale uses a minor third and a major sixth together (and also a major seventh!). Molldur is actually composed in this manner, looking closer at the progression above we see the following (most commonly used scales).
| C % |
ionian
| F % |
lydian
| Fm6 % |
melodic minor
| C % |
Try this: changing the major sixth as the bass note instead of the tonic makes it a half-diminished chord!
Examples
- The Beatles - In My Life: This song does not actually use a m6 chord but the progression is an excellent example of when you could use it. Over the text "life" the chord goes from D to Dm (in the key of A).
- The Eagles - Desperado: You can hear a m6 chord in the introduction and the verse, that both use the same chord progression. In the verse, you'll hear a minor sixt chord over the test senses. (In the key of G, you'll hear a Cm6).
