Explore chords · Guitar
B 6th chord on guitar (B6)
Also called or 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.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 6
- Root positionB–D♯–F♯–G♯B6×-2-1-1-0-2
- First inversionD♯–F♯–G♯–BB6/D♯×-×-1-1-0-2
- Second inversionF♯–G♯–B–D♯B6/F♯2-2-1-1-0-×
- Third inversionG♯–B–D♯–F♯B6/G♯4-6-4-4-4-4
How do you play a B 6th chord on guitar?
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.
Full note and interval 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) |
AdvancedThe 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.
6th fret
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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) |
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.
Other B chords
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.