F6 Chord on Ukulele
F6 = F – A – C – D (Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Major 6th)
F6 keeps one string open and spreads the rest across a modest three-fret range: the A string rings open for the third, the E string's first fret holds the root, the C string's second fret adds the sixth, and the G string reaches up to the fifth fret for the fifth itself — the widest single reach in an otherwise low, compact shape. No barre connects any of the fretted notes, so each one is its own independent finger.
The added sixth mellows F major's already rounded, grounded character into something even warmer and more relaxed, the same effect a sixth chord has on any major triad it joins. F6 can substitute for plain F major almost anywhere in a progression, adding gentle color without disrupting the song's underlying harmonic function, since every note of the plain triad is still present alongside the added sixth. Compared to C6's fully open voicing or D6's single clean barre, F6 needs a genuine four-finger spread — a reminder that this same elegant trick doesn't repeat identically at every root, even within a single key family.
Fingerings
Open Position
How to Practice It
Place the E string's first fret and the open A string first, since together they're the simplest part of the shape, then add the C string's second fret and finally the G string's fifth-fret reach, building outward from the easiest elements toward the hardest. Try ending a simple F-major progression on F6 instead of the plain triad to hear how the added sixth changes the final landing without disturbing the harmony underneath it.
Common Progressions
- I - I6 alternation (F - F6), adding color to a static tonic
- I6 - IV - V - I (F6 - Bb - C - F)
- vi - IV - I6 (Dm - Bb - F6), landing the progression on the fuller color
- Landing on F6 instead of plain F gives a strummed arrangement's final chord a warmer, less final-sounding close.
FAQ
- Why does F6 need four separate fingers when C6 needs none?
- None of F6's four notes align as conveniently with the open GCEA strings the way C's do, so each one requires its own individual fret.
- What does the added sixth do to F major's sound?
- It softens and warms the chord, the same gentle, swing-era lift a sixth chord brings to any major triad it joins.
- Can F6 be used as an ending chord?
- Yes — its one open string and generally low position make it a pleasant, resonant final chord for a simple strummed arrangement in F.
- Is F6 harder to play than D6's single-fret barre?
- Yes, noticeably — D6's four notes conveniently share one fret, while F6's are spread across four different frets with no barre shortcut available.
- Does F6 share notes with any minor seventh chord?
- Yes — like C6 and Am7, F6 shares its four pitches with Dm7, with the label depending on which note the surrounding harmony treats as the root.
- What's a good exercise for building confidence with F6?
- Practice adding the G string's fifth-fret note last, after the three lower notes are secure, since it's the widest single reach in the shape.
- Would F6 ever be confused with a minor seventh chord on another root?
- Yes — F6 shares its exact four pitches with Dm7, so which label applies depends entirely on whether the surrounding harmony treats F or D as the functional bass note.
- Is there a way to simplify F6 for a quick chord change mid-song?
- Some players drop the G string's fifth-fret reach and let it ring open instead, sacrificing the true sixth for a faster, three-finger approximation that still sounds close enough in a fast strum.
- Why doesn't F6 get the same single-barre convenience that D6 and C#6 enjoy?
- Its four notes simply don't land on a common fret across the open GCEA strings the way D and C#'s do — an accident of tuning rather than anything special about F itself, and a reminder that this trick only works for certain roots.
F6 on other instruments: F6 on Guitar, F6 on Piano. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.