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D 6th chord on guitar (D6)
Also called or written D6 or D
D 6th contains D, F♯, A and B. The open shape uses two fretted notes and two open strings, with the low E and A strings muted.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 6
- Root positionD–F♯–A–BD6×-×-0-2-0-2
- First inversionF♯–A–B–DD6/F♯2-0-0-2-0-2
- Second inversionA–B–D–F♯D6/A×-0-0-2-0-2
- Third inversionB–D–F♯–AD6/B×-2-0-2-0-2
How do you play a D 6th chord on guitar?
D 6th is played in open position as × × 0 2 0 2: index finger on the G string at fret 2 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 2. The D and B strings ring 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) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (6) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe open shape requires muting both the low E and A strings while fretting the G and high e strings, which demands precise finger placement.
9th fret
D 6th is played at the 9th fret as 10 9 9 11 10 ×: barre your index finger across fret 9, middle finger on the low E string at fret 10, pinky finger on the G string at fret 11 and ring finger on the B string at fret 10. The high e string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 2 | D (1) |
| 5 (A) | 9 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 1 (barre) | B (6) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 3 | A (5) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
12th fret
D 6th is played at the 12th fret as × × 12 14 12 14: index finger on the D string at fret 12, ring finger on the G string at fret 14, middle finger on the B string at fret 12 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 14. 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) | 12 | 1 | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 14 | 3 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 2 | B (6) |
| 1 (e) | 14 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
D6/F♯ inversion · 2-0-0-2-0-2
D 6th is played in open position as 2 0 0 2 0 2: index finger on the low E string at fret 2, middle finger on the G string at fret 2 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 2. The A, D and B strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (6) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (3) |
D6/F♯ inversion · 2-2-0-2-0-2
D 6th is played in open position as 2 2 0 2 0 2: index finger on the low E string at fret 2, middle finger on the A string at fret 2, ring finger on the G string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 2. The D and B strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 2 | B (6) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 3 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (6) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 4 | F♯ (3) |
Why it sounds like that
D 6th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, 6. The major sixth B added to the D major triad gives the chord a bright, folk-like colour. Compare it with D major, which has only three notes.
What goes wrong with D 6th?
- Letting the low E or A string ring: mute them, or the bass note shifts away from D.
- Flattening the index finger onto the D string and deadening it.
- Not pressing the high e string hard enough, causing a buzz.
When to use it
D 6th is the tonic in D major, heard in the I–IV–V–I progression D–G–A–D. Its open-string resonance suits folk and country. Use it to add colour to a D major chord in a ballad.
Changing to and from D 6th
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret gives E♭ 6th; the open D and B strings become fretted, so the hand must adjust.
Which voicing to use
The open shape keeps the root D in the bass and is the easiest to play. The D6/F♯ inversion at the 2nd fret places the third F♯ in the bass, which makes the chord sound lighter and less settled.
Other D chords
Common questions
How does D 6th differ from D major 7th?
D 6th adds the sixth B, while D major 7th adds the seventh C♯. The sixth gives a warmer, less tense sound than the seventh.
Can I play D 6th with a barre at the 9th fret?
Yes, the 9th 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 are the low E and A strings muted?
The low E is not a chord tone, and the A is a chord tone but muting it keeps the bass note on D. Which gives a clearer root position sound.