A6 Chord on Guitar
A6 is the A major 6th chord — 4 notes (A, C♯, E, F♯) built from the formula 1 3 5 6. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.
A6: Chord shapes (open & barre)
- open position
- fret 2
- fret 4
- fret 5
- fret 6
- fret 7
- fret 10
- fret 11
A6: Drop 2 voicings
- bass: 5
- bass: 5
- bass: 5
- bass: 6
- bass: 6
- bass: 6
- bass: R
- bass: R
- bass: R
- bass: 3
- bass: 3
- bass: 3
A6: Drop 3 voicings
- bass: 3
- bass: 3
- bass: 5
- bass: 5
- bass: 6
- bass: 6
- bass: R
- bass: R
A6: Shell voicings (jazz)
- R-3-7
- R-3-7
- R-7-3
- R-7-3
Keys that contain A6
Scales to play over A6
- A Major Scale
- A Major Pentatonic Scale
- A Lydian Mode
- A Mixolydian Mode
- A Major Blues Scale
- A Lydian ♯2 Scale
Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain A, C♯, E, F♯.
Other A chords
Major 6th chords in other keys
FAQ
- What notes are in the A6 chord?
- A6 (A major 6th) contains A, C♯, E, F♯ — formula 1 3 5 6.
- How do you play A6 on guitar?
- A common shape is x02222 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
- What scale goes with A6?
- Good choices to solo over A6: A Ionian (Major), A Major pentatonic, A Lydian.
- What key is A6 in?
- A6 is diatonic in D major (V6), E major (IV6), A major (I6), C♯ minor (♭VI6), F♯ minor (♭III6), B minor (♭VII6).