C minor 6 chordCm6

Built from

• Croot
• E♭minor 3rd
• G5th
• A6th

A bright major 6th on top of a dark minor chord gives it an uneasy, cinematic edge.

Hear it in a progression

• Epic minor

  Film scores and stadium anthems. In C minor.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Cm6i
  2. A♭VI
  3. E♭III
  4. B♭VII

• Minor cadence

  Dark, then a strong pull home. In C minor.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Cm6i
  2. Fmiv
  3. G7V7
  4. Cm6i

• Andalusian cadence

  Flamenco and surf rock, stepping down. In C minor.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Cm6i
  2. B♭VII
  3. A♭VI
  4. GV

Where it goes next

Thinking in C minor, where it is the i chord.

• A♭

  VI. Opens up into something bittersweet.

• Fm

  iv. Goes darker still.

• B♭

  VII. Steps down: a rock and folk staple.

• E♭

  III. Brightens into the relative major.

Sounds close

• E♭dim7

  Shares 3 of its notes. Both have C, E♭ and A.

• F7

  Shares 3 of its notes. Both have C, E♭ and A.

• A♭maj7

  Shares 3 of its notes. Both have C, E♭ and G.

• Am7

  Shares 3 of its notes. Both have C, G and A.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• C dorian

Keys it lives in

• C minoras i
• F minoras v
• G minoras iv
• E♭ majoras vi
• B♭ majoras ii
• A♭ majoras iii