Am6 chord on guitar

Am6 is A, C, E and F♯. The usual shape is x-0-2-2-1-2. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

x-0-2-2-1-2 · open · medium

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

How to play Am6 on guitar

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

Index finger: B string, 1st fret (C).
Middle finger: D string, 2nd fret (E).
Ring finger: G string, 2nd fret (A).
Pinky: high E string, 2nd fret (F♯).
Let the open A string ring (A).
Don't play the low E string: start your strum on the A string.

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.
The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.

Other ways to play Am6

5-7-7-5-7-5: barre shape at the 5th fret, medium. Root on the 6th string: move it up or down and it names a different minor sixth chord.
x-12-14-11-13-x: movable shape at the 11th fret, medium. This is the open Am6 shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.

Capo shortcuts for Am6

A capo turns an open chord into Am6: capo on the 5th fret and play the open Em6 shape (0-2-2-0-2-0) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open Dm6 shape (x-x-0-2-0-1). Handy when the rest of the song's chords also have open shapes in that position.

Moving between Am6 and its neighbours

The chords Am6 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

D (V in G major): Am6 (x-0-2-2-1-2) to D (x-x-0-2-3-2): your index finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the high E string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the B string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Listen for A and F♯, which stay put while the rest moves. D on guitar
C (IV in G major): Am6 (x-0-2-2-1-2) to C (x-3-2-0-1-0): your index and middle fingers stay put, the ring finger goes to the A string, 3rd fret. That makes it one of the quickest changes from this chord. The two chords share C and E, which is why the change sounds smooth. C on guitar
G (I in G major): Am6 (x-0-2-2-1-2) to G (3-2-0-0-0-3): move the index finger to the A string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the low E string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the high E string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. G on guitar

Am6 is A minor with a major sixth added. Am6 sounds moody and cinematic and often replaces Am as the home chord of a minor jazz tune. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

Getting Am6 under your fingers

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: A, E, A, C, F♯. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Then switch to 5-7-7-5-7-5 and back four times without looking at your hand.

Keys and progressions with Am6

Am6 on piano and ukulele

The same notes on another instrument: Am6 on piano and Am6 on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.

Close to Am6

Other minor sixth chords

Am6 on guitar: questions

What notes are in Am6 on guitar?

A, C, E and F♯. In the x-0-2-2-1-2 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 Am6 on guitar?

The friendliest Am6 shape is x-0-2-2-1-2. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, with open strings, and in many songs a capo can take over part of the work.

Is Am6 a barre chord on guitar?

Not usually: x-0-2-2-1-2 needs no barre. There are barre versions further up the neck, shown below it.

Which string does Am6 start on?

In the x-0-2-2-1-2 shape the lowest string you play is the A string, open, which is A, the root. Skip the low E string.

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