C#6

C#6 is C#, E#, G# and A#, a major sixth. The shape this page opens on is written x4332x, lowest string first.

Also written C#maj6, C#M6 or C# major 6. The same chord either way; which spelling you meet depends on who wrote the chart.

There are 9 common shapes for C#6 on the guitar, and 26 derived voicings in 3 families.

In which keys. Every note of C#6 belongs to C# major (the I), Eb minor (the ♭VII), F minor (the ♭VI), F# major (the V), Ab major (the IV) and Bb minor (the ♭III).

The common shapes, written lowest string first: x4332x, x46666, x86666, 988666, 686696, 9-x-8-10-9-x, 9-x-11-10-11-9, 9-11-x-10-11-9, x-x-11-13-11-13.

Shell. Root, third and seventh: the guide tones fix the quality, so the fifth is dropped. That is what leaves a string free, so pick a tension to put on top. C#6 has x433xx, 988xxx, x4x36x, 9-x-8-10-x-x.

Drop 2. A close-position chord with the second voice from the top lowered an octave. Sits on four adjacent strings. C#6 has x1312x, xx3324, 4433xx, xx6666, 6866xx, x-x-8-10-9-9, x-11-11-10-11-x, x-x-11-13-11-13.

Drop 3. The third voice from the top lowered an octave. The dropped voice becomes the bass, which is why a string is skipped. C#6 has x1x121, 4x332x, x4x364, x8x696, 6x666x, 9-x-8-10-9-x, x-11-x-10-11-9, 13-x-11-13-11-x.

Tensions. A shell of C#6, root, third and seventh, leaves a string free, and the tones that belong over it are the 9 (D#) and the #11 (F##).

The common shapes and the derived voicings come from different places, and both are explained in where the chords and the theory come from.