C Major 6th Chord (Cmaj6) on Piano
The Cmaj6 chord (C major 6th) is built from 4 notes: C – E – G – A.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from C | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | root | 0 |
| E | 3 | major 3rd | 4 |
| G | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| A | 6 | major 6th | 9 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 4 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | C – E – G – A | C in the bass |
| 1st inversion | E – G – A – C | E in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | G – A – C – E | G in the bass |
| 3rd inversion | A – C – E – G | A in the bass |
How the major 6th chord is built
Every major 6th chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), 3 (4 semitones), 5 (7 semitones), 6 (9 semitones). Starting on C and applying that formula produces C, E, G, A. Learn the formula once and you can build a major 6th chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Cmaj6
Every note of Cmaj6 belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on C
Major 6th chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Cmaj6 chord?
A Cmaj6 chord contains the notes C, E, G, A. Those are the 1, 3, 5, 6 degrees measured from the root note C.
How do you play Cmaj6 on piano?
Place your thumb on C, then add E and G and A above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–2–3–5.