A6 chord on guitar

A6 is A, C♯, E and F♯. The usual shape is x-0-2-2-2-2. Tap Play, then slow it down.

x-0-2-2-2-2 · open · medium

Notes: A · C♯ · E · F♯
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 6
First shape: x-0-2-2-2-2

How to play A6 on guitar

Shape 1, x-0-2-2-2-2, reading from the low E string on the left:

E: index finger, 2nd fret of the D string.
A: middle finger, 2nd fret of the G string.
C♯: ring finger, 2nd fret of the B string.
F♯: pinky finger, 2nd fret of the high E string.
Leave the A string open: A.
Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.

Arch your fingers so their tips come down vertically. That keeps them off the open strings, which have to ring for the chord to sound complete.
Your little finger has a job in this shape; it gets stronger in a week or two of short daily practice.

Other ways to play A6

x-x-7-6-7-5: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. Fewer strings, so it sounds lighter and is quicker to change to.
x-12-11-11-14-12: partial barre shape at the 11th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.

A6 the capo way

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open G6 shape (3-2-0-0-0-0), capo on the 5th fret and play the open E6 shape (0-2-2-1-2-0) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open D6 shape (x-x-0-2-0-2). The chord sounds as A6 because the capo raises every string by 2 half steps.

Changing from A6 to the chords around it

These are the changes you'll meet most often with A6, using the first shape of each chord.

D (IV in A major): A6 (x-0-2-2-2-2) to D (x-x-0-2-3-2): the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, move the middle finger to the high E string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the B string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. The two chords share A and F♯, which is why the change sounds smooth. D on guitar
E (V in A major): A6 (x-0-2-2-2-2) to E (0-2-2-1-0-0): the index finger goes to the G string, 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the D string, 2nd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. E carries over from one chord to the other. E on guitar
F♯m (vi in A major): A6 (x-0-2-2-2-2) to F♯m (2-4-4-2-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 4th fret, move the ring finger to the D string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. A, C♯ and F♯ carry over from one chord to the other. F♯m on guitar

A6 is A major with a major sixth added. A6 is a vintage ending chord; hold it at the end of a swing or ballad tune instead of plain A. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

A short A6 drill

Arpeggiate x-0-2-2-2-2 from the lowest string: A, E, A, C♯, F♯. Then strum it and listen for the same 5 notes together. Then switch to x-x-7-6-7-5 and back four times without looking at your hand.

Where A6 shows up

A6 on piano and ukulele

A6 on piano and ukulele uses the same 4 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Next to try on guitar

Other major sixth chords

A6 on guitar: questions

What notes are in A6 on guitar?

A, C♯, E and F♯. In the x-0-2-2-2-2 shape the strings play A (A string, open), E (D string), A (G string), C♯ (B string) and F♯ (high E string), so A is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play A6 on guitar?

The friendliest A6 shape is x-0-2-2-2-2. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, with open strings, and a capo can make it easier in some songs.

Is A6 a barre chord on guitar?

Not the usual shape: x-0-2-2-2-2 needs no barre.

Which string does A6 start on?

In the x-0-2-2-2-2 shape the lowest string you play is the A string, open, which is A, the root. Skip the low E string.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside A6. Updated September 2026.