D minor sixth (Dm6) chord on guitar

Minor sixth chord (a minor triad plus a major sixth) on D: the notes of the Dm6 chord are D – F – A – B.

Dots show:

Open positioneasy

Position 3medium

A shape, fret 5medium

Position 8medium

E shape, fret 10medium

D shape, fret 12medium

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 Dm6 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 Dm6 chord

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

How to play it – with fingering

Open position

String 1 (e): fret 1, index finger (F4)
String 2 (B): open (B3)
String 3 (G): fret 2, middle finger (A3)
String 4 (D): open (D3)
String 5 (A): not played
String 6 (E): not played

Position 3

String 1 (e): fret 5, little finger (A4)
String 2 (B): open (B3)
String 3 (G): fret 4, middle finger (B3)
String 4 (D): fret 3, index finger (F3)
String 5 (A): fret 5, ring finger (D3)
String 6 (E): not played

A shape, fret 5

String 1 (e): fret 7, little finger (B4)
String 2 (B): fret 6, middle finger (F4)
String 3 (G): fret 7, ring finger (D4)
String 4 (D): fret 7, ring finger (A3)
String 5 (A): fret 5, index finger (D3)
String 6 (E): not played

The “C, A, G, E and D shapes” are the CAGED system: you slide the shape of the open C, A, G, E or D chord up the neck and your index finger (a barre) takes over the job of the nut. That way the same chord can be played in five places, anywhere on the fretboard.

Tuning: E A D G B E (low to high). String 6 is the thickest, the low E. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Playing Dm6 with a capo

A capo clamps all the strings at one fret, so a familiar open shape sounds higher. You can also get a Dm6 chord with these open shapes:

Capo: fret 5
shape: Am6

Rework a whole song for a capo: chord transposer →

Which keys is it in?

The Dm6 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

A minor: iv6 (subdominant)
C major: ii6

Similar chords and substitutes

If Dm6 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

F – relative major: two shared notes
B♭ – the major chord a major third below: two shared notes
Dm7 – a fuller, softer minor colour

Same notes

Bm7b5 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

Dm – all 3 of its notes are in this chord
D5 – all 2 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Dm6 chord?

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

What is the easiest way to play Dm6 on guitar?

The easiest shape above is “Open position”, rated easy. We show 6 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck. With a capo you can also play it as a Am6 shape at fret 5.

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 Dm6 shapes?

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

How is the Dm6 chord written?

The chord symbol is Dm6, and its full name is D minor sixth.