A6 Chord (Major 6th)

The major 6th chord adds a 6th to a plain major triad — root, 3rd, 5th, 6th — an alternative colour to maj7 with a different feel. The notes of A6 are A, C#, E, F#.

A retro, doo-wop and vintage-pop sound: it resolves as cleanly as a major triad but carries a rounder, less tense flavour than maj7.

A6 voicings on guitar

Every playable, root-in-the-bass grip standard tuning offers, computed from the chord’s own formula — not a fixed shape library.

Swap it in wherever you’d use maj7 as an ending chord — the 6th resolves a tune with less "still floating" ambiguity than a major 7th does.

Formula and intervals

R - 3 - 5 - 6 — 4 notes.

Scales that fit A6

Every scale below contains all of this chord’s notes — safe territory to improvise in over it.

• A Ionian
• A Lydian
• A Mixolydian

Also compatible: Major Pentatonic, Major Blues, Diminished (HW).

Other extended on A

• Aadd9 (Add 9)
• Amaj9 (Major 9th)
• Am9 (Minor 9th)
• A9 (Dominant 9th)
• A11 (Dominant 11th)
• Amaj13 (Major 13th)