F6 Piano Chord

F6 is the F sixth chord. It has four notes: F, A, C and D. Every one of them is a white key, and together they are a plain F major chord with the D added on top for warmth.

1F2A3C5DC4C5

F at the bottom, then A, C and D. Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1. Four white keys, with C and D touching at the top.

How to play F6 on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the F above middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): F
  3. Index finger (2): A
  4. Middle finger (3): C
  5. Little finger (5): D
  6. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 2, 1 an octave lower, or just F on its own as a bass note.

Build F major first, F, A and C, then let the little finger take the D one whole step above the C. Thumb, index and middle keep the triad; only the top of the hand changes.

Inversions of F6

The same 4 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are F6; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionA C D F
F6 piano chord diagram, first inversion, A C D F
Lighter, with the third in the bass leaning the chord forward. It links smoothly to B flat and C chords either side of it.
Second inversionC D F A
F6 piano chord diagram, second inversion, C D F A
Open and a little cloudy at the base, where C and D sit a whole step apart. Higher up the chord clears, and the voicing sounds airy rather than muddy.
Third inversionD F A C
F6 piano chord diagram, third inversion, D F A C
The ambiguous voicing. With D underneath, F6 and D minor seventh become the same sound, which is useful for drifting between the two chords without moving the hand.

If it sounds wrong

The top note landed on E
One white key too far. F with an E on top is Fmaj7, a soft and floaty chord, not the settled sixth. The note you want is D, directly above the C.
It sounds like D minor
F6 and Dm7 share all four notes. If D becomes the lowest note the ear switches to D minor. Keep F at the bottom, or let the left hand hold a low F underneath.
The chord is lopsided
The gap between the middle finger and the little finger is small here, just a whole step, and the pair can lag behind the rest. Drop all four notes as one movement instead of placing them one by one.

What makes it an F6

F · A · C · D 1 3 5 6

F6 is an F major triad, F, A and C, with a D added: the sixth, a whole step above the fifth. The triad stays whole, so the chord still does everything a plain F does, with a rounder and slightly older sound.

Read from D, those same notes spell Dm7, the relative minor seventh of F. One handful of keys, two chords, and whichever note sits lowest decides which one you are hearing. The third inversion of F6 is literally a Dm7 shape.

F6 vs Fmaj7

Both add a single white key to F major. F6 adds D, a whole step over the C; Fmaj7 adds E, a half step under the F above. D settles the chord and makes it sound finished; E softens it and leaves it hanging.

Hold F, A, C and alternate the top note between D and E. The D version could close an old song; the E version sounds like it is still thinking. That one key is the entire difference.

Questions about F6

Is F6 the same as Dm7?

They use the same four notes: F, A, C and D. The bass decides the name. F at the bottom means F6; D at the bottom means Dm7.

What fingers do you use for F6?

Right hand: thumb on F, index on A, middle on C, little finger on D, which is 1, 2, 3, 5. Left hand: 5, 3, 2, 1.

What is the difference between F6 and F7?

F6 adds D, a colour note. F7 adds E flat, a flat seventh that pulls the chord toward B flat. The sixth stays put; the seventh insists on moving.

When would I use F6?

As a final chord in F, in older pop and jazz endings, and wherever the melody rests on D while the harmony stays on F.

Is F6 hard to play?

No. Four white keys and no stretch beyond a sixth. If F major is comfortable, F6 is one extra little finger.

Chords to learn next

Other F chords