Arpeggio
D 6
Major
- Formula
- 1 3 5 6
- Notes
- D F♯ A B
Notation
Fretboard — frets 0–24
Degrees
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | perfect unison | 0 | The root — the tonal centre every other note is heard against; land on it and the sound resolves. |
| 3 | F♯ | major third | 4 | The major third — the bright note that makes a quality major; it defines the chord's colour and pulls gently toward the root. |
| 5 | A | perfect fifth | 7 | The perfect fifth — the root's strongest companion; it anchors every triad and stacked-seventh quality. |
| 6 | B | major sixth | 9 | The major sixth — the hopeful note that separates dorian and m6 from their darker cousins; it sits a whole step above the fifth. |
About this arpeggio
The six chord keeps the major triad and adds a major sixth instead of a seventh, which gives it a sweet, vintage openness — the sound of swing rhythm guitar, early rock and roll and country shuffles. With no seventh, it is not pulling anywhere: it sits calmly on the tonic and lets the melody move. The sixth is the same note as the thirteenth an octave lower, so this quality is the doorway to the richer 6/9 and 13 sounds. On the neck the shape is compact and forgiving, which makes it a good first extended arpeggio. Listen for how the added note softens the triad without darkening it.
How to practise this arpeggio
- Compare it with the major triad: play both and listen for the sixth softening the top.
- Hold the sixth while the other two notes move underneath, and hear the melody note.
- Use it as a calm ending chord and let the sixth ring instead of resolving it.
- Play the shape across string sets so the same four notes appear in three places.