A six chordA6

Built from

• Aroot
• C♯major 3rd
• E5th
• F♯6th

The 6th adds a warm note without any clash, so the chord stays completely at rest.

Hear it in a progression

• The pop progression

  Behind countless hits. Hopeful, then bittersweet. In A major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. A6I
  2. EV
  3. F♯mvi
  4. DIV

• Three-chord song

  Folk, rock and roll, campfire. In A major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. A6I
  2. DIV
  3. EV
  4. A6I

• Doo-wop

  Fifties ballad, sweet and nostalgic. In A major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. A6I
  2. F♯mvi
  3. DIV
  4. EV

Where it goes next

Thinking in A major, where it is the I chord.

• D

  IV. Lifts away from home without leaving it.

• E

  V. Builds tension that wants to come back.

• F♯m

  vi. Same key, sadder colour: the relative minor.

• Bm

  ii. A gentle step up that sets up the V chord.

Sounds close

• F♯m7

  Shares 4 of its notes. Both have A, C♯, E and F♯.

• Dmaj7

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

• F♯7

  Shares 3 of its notes. Both have C♯, E and F♯.

• F♯m

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

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• A major
• A major pentatonic

Keys it lives in

• A majoras I
• D majoras V
• E majoras IV
• C♯ minoras VI
• F♯ minoras III
• B minoras VII