Cm6 chord on guitar

Cm6 is C, E♭, G and A. The usual shape is x-3-5-2-4-x. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

x-3-5-2-4-x · movable · medium

Notes: C · E♭ · G · A
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · 5 · 6
First shape: x-3-5-2-4-x

How to play Cm6 on guitar

Shape 1, x-3-5-2-4-x, reading from the low E string on the left, starts at the 2nd fret:

Index finger: G string, 2nd fret (A).
Middle finger: A string, 3rd fret (C).
Ring finger: B string, 4th fret (E♭).
Pinky: D string, 5th fret (G).
Keep the low E and high E strings quiet by touching them lightly with a fretting finger.

The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.
This one reaches. Let the thumb slide lower on the neck and the stretch gets noticeably easier.
Aim the strum at the thinner strings only; the lower ones are marked × for a reason.

Other ways to play Cm6

8-10-10-8-10-8: barre shape at the 8th fret, medium. The root is on the low E string, so you can slide this shape to play any minor sixth chord.
8-6-5-5-8-5: partial barre shape at the 5th fret, medium. A different set of strings gives a different color of the same chord.
x-15-13-14-13-15: partial barre shape at the 13th fret, medium. Higher up the neck it sounds brighter; handy when another guitar is already playing a lower shape.

Playing Cm6 with a capo

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 3rd fret and play the open Am6 shape (x-0-2-2-1-2). The chord sounds as Cm6 because the capo raises every string by 3 half steps.

Moving between Cm6 and its neighbours

The chords Cm6 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

F (V in B♭ major): Cm6 (x-3-5-2-4-x) to F (1-3-3-2-1-1): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for C and A, which stay put while the rest moves. F on guitar
E♭ (IV in B♭ major): Cm6 (x-3-5-2-4-x) to E♭ (x-x-1-3-4-3): your index finger lands on the D string, 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 3rd fret, move the ring finger to the high E string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared notes: E♭ and G. E♭ on guitar
B♭ (I in B♭ major): Cm6 (x-3-5-2-4-x) to B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 1st fret, the middle finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, your ring finger lands on the G string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. B♭ on guitar

Cm6 is C minor with a major sixth added. Cm6 sounds moody and cinematic and often replaces Cm as the home chord of a minor jazz tune. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

A short Cm6 drill

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: C, G, A, E♭. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Finish by moving between x-3-5-2-4-x and 8-10-10-8-10-8 to learn two positions of the same chord.

Keys and progressions with Cm6

Cm6 on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try Cm6 on ukulele or Cm6 on piano, or compare them on the Cm6 chord page.

Related C chords on guitar

Other minor sixth chords

Cm6 on guitar: questions

What notes are in Cm6 on guitar?

C, E♭, G and A. In the x-3-5-2-4-x shape the strings play C (A string), G (D string), A (G string) and E♭ (B string).

What's the easiest way to play Cm6 on guitar?

In standard tuning Cm6 can't use open strings. Begin with x-3-5-2-4-x. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and in many songs a capo can take over part of the work.

Is Cm6 a barre chord on guitar?

Not the usual shape: x-3-5-2-4-x needs no barre. There are barre versions further up the neck, shown below it.

Which string does Cm6 start on?

In the x-3-5-2-4-x shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 3rd fret, which is C, the root. Skip the low E and high E strings.

Every shape above plays only C, E♭, G and A, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.