Sixth chord
The term
sixth chord refers to two different kinds of chord, the first in classical music and the second in modern popular music. The original meaning of the term is a
chord in first inversion, in other words with its third in the bass and its root a sixth above it. This is how the term is still used in classical music today, and in this sense it is also called a
chord of the sixth. In modern popular music, a sixth chord is any triad with an added sixth above the root as a chord factor. This was traditionally called an
added sixth chord or
triad with added sixth since Jean-Philippe Rameau in the 18th century. It is not common to designate chord inversions in popular music, so there is no need for a term designating the first inversion of a chord, and so the term
sixth chord can be used in popular music as a short way of saying
added sixth chord. When not otherwise specified, it usually means a major triad with an added major sixth interval. However, a minor triad is also used, together with the same interval, resulting in a minor sixth chord.