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D#6 Piano Chord

    Piano Diagram of D#6 in Root Position

    D#6 Chord - Root Position

    D#6 is a four-note chord consisting of the notes D#, Fx, A#, and B#. It is a major chord with an added sixth. It belongs to the chord family of “added tone chords” (aka “add chord”). Keep reading to gain a deeper understanding of the music theory behind this chord.

     


    Structure of D#6

    Notes

    D#, Fx, A#, B#

    Intervals

    R, 3, 5, 6

     

    Finger Position

    Left Hand

    5, 3, 2, 1

    5, 4, 2, 1

    Right Hand

    1, 2, 4, 5

    1, 2, 3, 4

     

    D#6 Chord Inversions

     

    The D#6 chord has a total of 3 inversions:

    Root Position: D# Fx A# B#
    1st Inversion: Fx A# B# D#
    2nd Inversion: A# B# D# Fx
    3rd Inversion: B# D# Fx A#

     Piano Keyboard Diagrams


    Music Theory and Harmony of D#6

    Building the D#6 Chord: Different Approaches

    Starting from the D# Major Scale

    To create a 6th chord, you can use the Major scale as a reference by combining a Root, a 3rd, a 5th, and a 6th.

     

    D# Major Diatonic Scale

    D# Major Scale

     

    D# Major Diatonic Scale up to 13th - Keyless Notation

    Keyless Notation of the D# Major scale.

     

    Apply the formula R, 3, 5, 6 to build a 6th chord:

    1. Select the Root note, which is D#.
    2. Pick the 3rd note, which is Fx, and add it to the chord.
    3. Add the 5th note, which is A#, and include it as well.
    4. Finally, add the 6th which is B#

     


    by Combining Intervals

    To build a 6th chord, one approach is to combine specific intervals, namely a major 3rd, a minor 3rd, and a major 2nd (a whole-tone).

    3 + m3 + 2 = 6th chords

    For instance, when building a D#6 chord, you can observe that

    • D#-Fx forms a major 3rd interval,
    • Fx-A# creates a minor 3rd interval, and
    • A#-B# makes up a whole-tone interval.

    By stacking these intervals together, you can form a D#6 chord.

     


    6th Chords Equivalencies

    If we take the third inversion of a 6th chord (which means we move the notes around so that the 6th note becomes the Root note), we end up with a new chord that is equivalent to a min7 chord.

    So, if we take the D#6 chord (which has the notes D#, Fx, A#, and B#) and move the notes around so that B# becomes the Root note, we end up with a new chord that is equivalent to a B# min7 chord (which has the notes B#, D#, Fx, and A#).

    3rd inversion of D#6 = B# min7 (C min7)

     


    How to Use D#6 in a Chord Progression

     

    Since 6th are based on major triads with an extra sixth, they can substitute the major chords built on the scale of the root. This means that we can use the D#6 chord in those positions on the scale where the harmonization results in a major chord.

    This table showcases the harmonized major and natural minor scales where a D# Major chord can be found. In all positions where a D# Maj7 chord is present, the D#6 chord can be used as a variation.

    on Major Scales

    The D# Maj7 chord appear only in theoretical keys, it’s more practical to refer to its enharmonic equivalent chord Bb Maj7.

    Major Scales I ii iii IV V vi vii
    D# = Eb
    Eb Maj7 ⇒ Eb6 = D#6 F min7 G min7 Ab Maj7 Bb7 C min7 Dm7b5
    A# = Bb
    Bb Maj7 C min7 D min7 Eb Maj7 ⇒ Eb6 = D#6 F7 G min7 Am7b5
    • Tonic chord in Eb Major as Eb6
    • Subdominant chord in Bb Major as Eb6

    on Natural minor Scales

    As before, we will refer to Eb6 instead of D#6 because the D# Maj7 chord appear only in theoretical minor keys.

    Minor Scales i ii III iv v VI VII
    B# = C C min7 Dm7b5 Eb Maj7 ⇒ Eb6 = D#6 F min7 G min7 Ab Maj7 Bb7
    Fx = G G min7 Abxm7b5 Bb Maj7 C min7 D min7 Eb Maj7 ⇒ Eb6 = D#6 F7
    • Mediant chord in C minor as Eb6
    • Submediant chord in G minor as Eb6

     


    D#6 in D# Major

    Check Eb6 in Eb Major

     


    D#6 in A# Major

    Check Eb6 in Bb Major

     


    D#6 in B# minor

    Check Eb6 in C minor

     


    D#6 in Fx minor

    Check Eb6 in G minor

     


    Alternative Names for D#6 Chord

    • Re#6
    • D# 6th
    • D# M6
    • D# sixth
    • D# add6
    • D# Maj6
    • D# major6
    • D# major 6th
    • D# major sixth
    • D# major add 6th

     


     

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