C♯ minor sixth (C♯m6) chord on mandolin

Looking for the C♯m6 chord on mandolin? It is a minor sixth chord (a minor triad plus a major sixth), made of four notes: C♯ – E – G♯ – A♯. The same chord with a different spelling: D♭ minor sixth (D♭m6).

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 6medium

Position 4medium

Position 8medium

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 C♯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 C♯m6 chord

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

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): open (E5)
String 2 (A): fret 4, ring finger (C♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 2, index finger (E4)
String 4 (G): fret 3, middle finger (A♯3)

Position 6

String 1 (E): fret 6, ring finger (A♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 7, little finger (E5)
String 3 (D): fret 6, middle finger (G♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 6, index finger (C♯4)

Position 4

String 1 (E): open (E5)
String 2 (A): fret 4, index finger (C♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 8, little finger (A♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 6, ring finger (C♯4)

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

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

G♯ minor: iv6 (subdominant)
B major: ii6

Similar chords and substitutes

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

Substitutes (by function)

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

Same notes

B♭m7b5 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

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

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C♯m6 chord?

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

What is the easiest way to play C♯m6 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”, rated easy. We show 4 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 C♯m6 shapes?

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

How is the C♯m6 chord written?

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