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Ukulele chords

D minor sixth (Dm6) chord on ukulele

Looking for the Dm6 chord on ukulele? It is a minor sixth chord (a minor triad plus a major sixth), made of four notes: D – F – A – B.

Dots show:
Dm6 – Basic shape2314GCEAADFB
Basic shapemedium
Dm6 – Position 44.1234GCEABFAD
Position 4medium
Dm6 – Position 77.1423GCEADABF
Position 7medium
Dm6 – Position 1010.132GCEAFBDA
Position 10easy

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

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

DegreeNoteInterval from the root
1Droot
3Fminor third (3 semitones)
5Aperfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
6Bmajor sixth (9 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

  • String 1 (A): fret 2, little finger (B4)
  • String 2 (E): fret 1, index finger (F4)
  • String 3 (C): fret 2, ring finger (D4)
  • String 4 (G): fret 2, middle finger (A4)

Position 4

  • String 1 (A): fret 5, little finger (D5)
  • String 2 (E): fret 5, ring finger (A4)
  • String 3 (C): fret 5, middle finger (F4)
  • String 4 (G): fret 4, index finger (B4)

Position 7

  • String 1 (A): fret 8, ring finger (F5)
  • String 2 (E): fret 7, middle finger (B4)
  • String 3 (C): fret 9, little finger (A4)
  • String 4 (G): fret 7, index finger (D5)

Tuning: G C E A (the G string is higher than the C – standard re-entrant ukulele tuning). In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

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

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 ukulele?

The easiest shape above is “Position 10”, 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 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.

Related chords

The same chord on another instrument:

Dm6 on guitarDm6 on pianoDm6 on mandolinDm6 on banjo

Other D chords on ukulele:

DDmD7Dmaj7Dm7Dsus2Dsus4D7sus4D6Dadd9DdimDaugDdim7Dm7b5D9Dm9Dmaj9D11D13

All ukulele chords in a table →

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Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash