6/9 chords

The 6/9 chord is a five-note chord that combines the 6th chord with the add 9th chord. It could also be seen as a 6th chord with an added ninth. By comparing C6 with C6/9, we can see that the notes change from C, E, G, A to C, E, G, A, B.

6/9

C6/9

C#6/9

D6/9

Eb6/9

E6/9

F6/9

F#6/9

G6/9

G#6/9

A6/9

Bb6/9

B6/9

Chord structure

The sixth is built with the formula 1-3-5-6-9) (root, major 3rd, perfect 5th, major 6th, major 9th).

Notes in chord

C6/9  C - E - G - A - D
C#6/9  C# - F - G# - A# - D#
D6/9  D - F# - A - B - E
D#6/9  D# - G - A# - C - F
E6/9  E - G# - B - C# - F#
F6/9  F - A - C - D - G
F#6/9  F# - A# - C# - D# - G#
G6/9  G - B - D - E - A
G#6/9  G# - C - D# - F - A#
A6/9  A - C# - E - F# - B
A#6/9  A# - D - F - G - C
B6/9  B - D# - F# - G# - C#
The intervals are 1 – 3 – 5 – 6 - 9

Movable 6/9 chord

Here are two ways to play the 6th with movable shape.

C6/9 chord diagram X3223XC6/9 chord diagram X3223X

The root note is the same as the bass note in both examples.

6th chord in open position

Here are additional shapes in open position for this chord category:

F6: 10021X
G6: XX5430 / 350000
G6/A: X05700
G6/D: X55430
G#6/D#: XX1111
Bb6: X1303X

6/9 chord inversions

A6/9 chord is possible to play in numerous configurations including four inversions.

C6/9 can be used as an example:

  • C - E - G - A - D (root position)
  • E - G - A - D - C (1st inversion)
  • G - A - D - C - E (2nd inversion)
  • A - D - C - E - G (3rd inversion)
  • D - C - E - G - A (4th inversion)

To indicate that a chord is played inverted it is written with a slash before the bass note. This can in the case of this specific chord type look a bit awkward. An option is two write as C6add9/E instead and so on.

Back to chord types
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