Major sixth
Major triad with a sixth instead of a seventh. Sounds finished, without the brightness of a major seventh.
Symbol 6 · C6 Four notes
Listen
Notes of the chord
1 C M3 E P5 G M6 A
C E G A
Where you have heard it
Acorde final in songs and standards
What it gets confused with
Frequently asked
Which notes make a major sixth chord?
A major triad plus a major sixth — for example C, E, G and A.
How is it different from a dominant seventh?
It has no tritone, so it rests instead of resolving. That is why it works as a final chord.
Where does it turn up?
As the closing chord of songs and standards, where a plain triad would sound abrupt.
There is an exercise track dedicated to recognising this by ear.
Train this