Chord Shapes

Minor 6th

Intervals: 1-b3-5-6. A minor triad with a natural 6th. This chord is closely tied to Dorian and melodic minor contexts and is a traditional tonic minor sound in swing and gypsy jazz. Compared with m7 it feels more “closed” and resolved, because the 6th does not create the same dominant-leaning tension as a b7. Many minor-key tunes, especially in gypsy jazz, end on a tonic m6 (e.g. “Minor Swing”). In jazz standards it can substitute for i or iv, giving a vintage, gently wistful flavour that is less bluesy than m7 and less stark than a plain minor triad.