D6

D Major 6th — a major triad sweetened with the sixth — settled, vintage, and smoother than a maj7 in many endings.

The keys
C4C5C6
D – F♯ – A – B
What's inside D6
NoteInterval from rootDegree
DRoot1
F♯Major 3rd3
APerfect 5th5
BMajor 6th6
Inversions
PositionKeys (low → high)
Root positionD4 – G♭4 – A4 – B4
1st inversionG♭4 – A4 – B4 – D5
2nd inversionA4 – B4 – D5 – G♭5
3rd inversionB4 – D5 – G♭5 – A5
A working voicing

Split the chord between two hands the way working players do — a solid shell low down, the colour tones up top:

HandKeys
Left (shell)D2 – A2
Right (colour)G♭4 – B4
Where D6 lives

As the I chord

D6 → G → A → D6

The classic I–IV–V–I motion with this chord as home.

In a ii–V–I

Em7 → A7 → D6

The strongest cadence in harmony, resolving onto this chord.

Put D6 under your fingers

Hear every voicing, see the keys light up, and drill it in the interactive Chord & Voicing Lab.

Open the Chord & Voicing Lab →
Major 6th in every key
C6 C♯6 E♭6 E6 F6 F♯6 G6 A♭6 A6 B♭6 B6