How to Play A6 on Piano

The A Major 6th chord sounds warm and nostalgic. It stacks 4 notes: A – C# – E – F#.

A major triad with a sixth added. It resolves as comfortably as a plain triad but sounds fuller, which is why it ends so many jazz standards.

Notes in A6

NoteIntervalFinger
AA4Root1
C#C#5Major 3rd2
EE5Perfect 5th3
F#F#5Major 6th5

How to Play

Right Hand

Place your thumb (finger 1) on A. Use finger 2 on C#, finger 3 on E, and finger 5 on F#.

Where it sits

2 notes of this chord (C#, F#) are on black keys, so play it a little further back on the keys than an all-white shape.

Press all 4 keys at the same time. Keep your wrist relaxed and your fingers curved. The blue dots on the piano below show exactly which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.

Other Major 6th Chords

Other A Chords