F♯ minor sixth (F♯m6) chord on banjo

Minor sixth chord (a minor triad plus a major sixth) on F♯: the notes of the F♯m6 chord are F♯ – A – C♯ – D♯. The same chord with a different spelling: G♭ minor sixth (G♭m6).

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 4medium

Position 7medium

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

Chord finder Transposer Tuner

What the F♯m6 chord sounds like

A minor sixth chord is a minor triad with a major sixth: dark but taut, with a film-noir feel. It is a common minor tonic in gypsy jazz, tango and jazz.

Notes of the F♯m6 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	F♯	root
3	A	minor third (3 semitones)
5	C♯	perfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
6	D♯	major sixth (9 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (D): fret 4, little finger (F♯4)
String 2 (B): fret 4, little finger (D♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 2, index finger (A3)
String 4 (D): fret 4, ring finger (F♯3)

Position 4

String 1 (D): fret 7, little finger (A4)
String 2 (B): fret 4, middle finger (D♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 6, ring finger (C♯4)
String 4 (D): fret 4, index finger (F♯3)

Position 7

String 1 (D): fret 7, ring finger (A4)
String 2 (B): fret 7, middle finger (F♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 8, little finger (D♯4)
String 4 (D): fret 7, index finger (A3)

Five-string banjo in open G tuning (g D G B D). The diagram shows the four long strings; the short 5th string (g) rings open – avoid it when G is not in the chord. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The F♯m6 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

C♯ minor: iv6 (subdominant)
E major: ii6

Similar chords and substitutes

If F♯m6 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

A – relative major: two shared notes
D – the major chord a major third below: two shared notes
F♯m7 – a fuller, softer minor colour

Same notes

E♭m7b5 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

F♯m – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the F♯m6 chord?

F♯, A, C♯, D♯. The root is F♯; the intervals of the other notes from the root: minor third, perfect fifth, major sixth.

What is the easiest way to play F♯m6 on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. We show 3 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

Why is a note missing from some F♯m6 shapes?

On a fretted instrument you can't always play every note of a 4-note chord. The fifth (C♯) may be dropped – the chord keeps its character without it.

How is the F♯m6 chord written?

The chord symbol is F♯m6 (also written F#m6), and its full name is F♯ minor sixth.