Tools / Chords / B 6th

B 6th chord on guitar (B6)

Also written B6 or B

B 6th contains B, D♯, F♯ and G♯. The open shape uses a two-fret stretch on the A and D strings, with the B string left open.

Open×-2-1-1-0-2

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

B1Root

D♯3Major 3rd

F♯5Perfect 5th

G♯6Major 6th

Formula 1, 3, 5, 6

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionB–D♯–F♯–G♯B6Bass B

First inversionD♯–F♯–G♯–BB6/D♯Bass D♯

Second inversionF♯–G♯–B–D♯B6/F♯Bass F♯

Third inversionG♯–B–D♯–F♯B6/G♯Bass G♯

Why it sounds like that

B 6th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, 6. The major sixth G♯ added to the B major triad gives the chord a bright, singing quality. Compare it with B major, which lacks the sixth.

What goes wrong with B 6th?

Letting the low E string ring: mute it with the thumb, or the open E clashes with the chord.
Flattening the pinky onto the B string and deadening the open string.
Not pressing the D and G strings hard enough, causing a buzz.

When to use it

B 6th is the tonic in B major, used in the I–IV–V–I progression B–E–F♯–B. Its open B string gives a ringing quality that suits rock and pop. Use it to brighten a B major chord in a chorus.

Changing to and from B 6th

Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives C 6th; the open B string becomes fretted, so the hand must adjust.

Which voicing to use

The open shape keeps the root B in the bass and is the easiest to play. The B6/D♯ inversion at the 1st fret places the third in the bass, which makes the chord sound more delicate.

How do you play a B 6th chord on guitar?

Open

Beginner● On the diagram

B 6th is played in open position as × 2 1 1 0 2: ring finger on the A string at fret 2, index finger on the D string at fret 1, middle finger on the G string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 2. The B string rings open. The low E string stays muted.

Tip — The open shape requires the pinky to fret the high e string at the 2nd fret while the ring finger holds the A string, which can strain smaller hands.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	2	3	B (1)
4 (D)	1	1	D♯ (3)
3 (G)	1	2	G♯ (6)
2 (B)	open	—	B (1)
1 (e)	2	4	F♯ (5)

6th fret

Barre

B 6th is played at the 6th fret as 7 6 6 8 7 ×: barre your index finger across fret 6, middle finger on the low E string at fret 7, pinky finger on the G string at fret 8 and ring finger on the B string at fret 7. The high e string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	7	2	B (1)
5 (A)	6	1 (barre)	D♯ (3)
4 (D)	6	1 (barre)	G♯ (6)
3 (G)	8	4	D♯ (3)
2 (B)	7	3	F♯ (5)
1 (e)	muted	—	—

9th fret

Intermediate

B 6th is played at the 9th fret as × × 9 11 9 11: index finger on the D string at fret 9, ring finger on the G string at fret 11, middle finger on the B string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 11. The low E and A strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	muted	—	—
4 (D)	9	1	B (1)
3 (G)	11	3	F♯ (5)
2 (B)	9	2	G♯ (6)
1 (e)	11	4	D♯ (3)

B6/D♯ inversion · open position

Beginner

B 6th is played in open position as × × 1 1 0 2: index finger on the D string at fret 1, middle finger on the G string at fret 1 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 2. The B string rings open. The low E and A strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	muted	—	—
4 (D)	1	1	D♯ (3)
3 (G)	1	2	G♯ (6)
2 (B)	open	—	B (1)
1 (e)	2	3	F♯ (5)

B6/D♯ inversion · fret 4

Barre

B 6th is played at the 4th fret as × 6 4 4 4 4: barre your index finger across fret 4 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	6	4	D♯ (3)
4 (D)	4	1 (barre)	F♯ (5)
3 (G)	4	1 (barre)	B (1)
2 (B)	4	1 (barre)	D♯ (3)
1 (e)	4	1 (barre)	G♯ (6)

Common questions

How does B 6th differ from B major 7th?

B 6th adds the sixth G♯, while B major 7th adds the seventh A♯. The sixth gives a warmer, less tense sound than the seventh.

Can I play B 6th with a barre at the 6th fret?

Yes, the 6th fret shape is a full barre with the root on the A string. It is easier to move up the neck than the open shape.

Why is the low E string muted?

The low E is not a chord tone, so it must be muted to keep the bass note on B and avoid a muddy sound.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

B (1)

4 (D)

D♯ (3)

3 (G)

G♯ (6)

2 (B)

open

—

B (1)

1 (e)

F♯ (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

B (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

D♯ (3)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

G♯ (6)

3 (G)

D♯ (3)

2 (B)

F♯ (5)

1 (e)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

B (1)

3 (G)

F♯ (5)

2 (B)

G♯ (6)

1 (e)

D♯ (3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

D♯ (3)

3 (G)

G♯ (6)

2 (B)

open

—

B (1)

1 (e)

F♯ (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

D♯ (3)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

F♯ (5)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

B (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

D♯ (3)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

G♯ (6)