major sixth chord generator
Build and Hear Major Sixth Chords
A major sixth chord adds a major sixth to a major triad. The added tone is nine semitones above the root. A plain 6 chord symbol normally indicates this major-triad quality.
Start with C: C · E · G · A. Select another root to transpose the same formula, choose a voicing and press Play chord. Each note also has its own listening button. Audio begins only after a click; there is no camera or microphone request.
Play the instrument ↑- Chord formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 6
- Semitone offsets
- 0 · 4 · 7 · 9
- C example
- C · E · G · A
- Reference tuning
- Equal temperament · A4 = 440 Hz
The major sixth formula
A major sixth chord adds a major sixth to a major triad. The added tone is nine semitones above the root. A plain 6 chord symbol normally indicates this major-triad quality.
The formula 1 · 3 · 5 · 6 describes intervals from the selected root. The C example is C · E · G · A; these are 4 separate chord tones. A root change transposes the entire collection, while a voicing change rearranges the same pitch classes.
- Degree 1: 0 semitones above the root.
- Degree 3: 4 semitones above the root.
- Degree 5: 7 semitones above the root.
- Degree 6: 9 semitones above the root.
Add a sixth rather than a seventh
Compare C6 with Cmaj7. Listen to A moving upward to B. Then choose F and inspect F-A-C-D to transfer the formula without changing its interval sizes.
The Compare major seventh button keeps the selected root and root octave, and uses the comparison chord in root position. Set this chord to root position too for the clearest quality comparison. Use headphones or a quiet room and keep your listening volume comfortable.
Read the bass before naming an inversion
Root position starts on degree 1. First inversion starts on degree 3; second inversion starts on degree 5. Third inversion starts on degree 6. The slash label shows the sounding bass and the displayed MIDI values let you verify its pitch.
Inversions preserve the root and quality. This tool raises rotated notes by an octave so the selected bass is the lowest note. For an added ninth, the inversion examples use a close pitch-class voicing; root position retains the compound ninth. These are reference voicings, not the only musical arrangements.
C6 and Am7 share pitch classes, but their selected roots and chord-tone roles differ. Use third inversion to place A in the bass and explore that overlap without treating the labels as universally identical.
Connect the reference to gesture playing
The webcam engine has no dedicated added-sixth quality. Use the local generator for that added note and the gesture instrument for supported triads and sevenths.
The chord laboratory uses buttons and menus for direct note selection. The main gesture instrument uses webcam recognition and has its own supported chord controls. Open that instrument when you want live two-hand performance; the sound and voicing need not match this sine-wave reference exactly.
Spelling, playback and export limits
A sixth chord contains an added sixth; first inversion of a triad is a different use of the number six in classical figured bass. This tool uses modern chord-symbol notation.
Note names preserve the chosen root letter and chord degrees. A sharp, flat or double flat may sound the same as a simpler enharmonic name in equal temperament. The tool keeps the theoretical spelling while MIDI numbers show the actual sounding pitches.
The WAV download is a 2.4-second, mono, 44.1 kHz synthesized chord with a short fade. It contains the currently displayed voicing, not the comparison chord, a melody, a guitar fingering or an automatic chord progression. Stop sound cancels playback; Reset returns to C in octave 3 and root position.
Answers before you play
Major Sixth Chord Questions
What notes are in C major sixth?
C · E · G · A. Their semitone offsets from C are 0, 4, 7, 9. The displayed spelling follows the formula 1 · 3 · 5 · 6.
How is this different from major seventh?
Compare C6 with Cmaj7. Listen to A moving upward to B. Then choose F and inspect F-A-C-D to transfer the formula without changing its interval sizes. The two generators share playback controls but use different interval formulas and note collections.
Can I use this without a webcam?
Yes. This chord tool needs no camera, microphone or account. The webcam engine has no dedicated added-sixth quality. Use the local generator for that added note and the gesture instrument for supported triads and sevenths.
Why is an enharmonic note spelled with a sharp or flat?
Chord degrees determine note letters. A theoretically correct spelling may include two accidentals even when a simpler name has the same MIDI pitch. Playback uses equal temperament at A4 = 440 Hz.
What can I do if sound is unavailable?
Check the tab's sound setting and your output device, then press Play chord again. The notes and local WAV download work independently of real-time playback. The page reports a Web Audio error rather than requesting microphone access.