Explore chords · Guitar
E 6th chord on guitar (E6)
Also called or written E6 or E
E 6th contains E, G♯, B and C♯. The open shape uses all six strings, with three fretted notes and three open strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 6
- Root positionE–G♯–B–C♯E60-2-2-1-2-0
- First inversionG♯–B–C♯–EE6/G♯4-2-2-4-2-4
- Second inversionB–C♯–E–G♯E6/B×-2-2-1-2-0
- Third inversionC♯–E–G♯–BE6/C♯×-4-2-4-2-4
How do you play an E 6th chord on guitar?
E 6th is played in open position as 0 2 2 1 2 0: middle finger on the A string at fret 2, ring finger on the D string at fret 2, index finger on the G string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 2. The low E and high e strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 2 | B (5) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 3 | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 1 | G♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 4 | C♯ (6) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (1) |
AdvancedThe open shape requires the pinky to fret the B string at the 2nd fret while the ring finger holds the D string, which can strain smaller hands.
2nd fret
E 6th is played at the 2nd fret as × × 2 4 2 4: index finger on the D string at fret 2, ring finger on the G string at fret 4, middle finger on the B string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 4. 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) | 2 | 1 | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 3 | B (5) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 2 | C♯ (6) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 4 | G♯ (3) |
11th fret
E 6th is played at the 11th fret as 12 11 11 13 12 ×: barre your index finger across fret 11, middle finger on the low E string at fret 12, pinky finger on the G string at fret 13 and ring finger on the B string at fret 12. The high e string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 12 | 2 | E (1) |
| 5 (A) | 11 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | 11 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (6) |
| 3 (G) | 13 | 4 | G♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 3 | B (5) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
E6/G♯ inversion · G♯ on top
E 6th is played at the 2nd fret as 4 2 2 4 2 4: barre your index finger across fret 2, middle finger on the low E string at fret 4, ring finger on the G string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 2 | G♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 (barre) | B (5) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 (barre) | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 3 | B (5) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (6) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 4 | G♯ (3) |
E6/G♯ inversion · C♯ on top
E 6th is played at the 2nd fret as 4 4 2 4 2 ×: barre your index finger across fret 2, middle finger on the low E string at fret 4, ring finger on the A string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 4. The high e string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 2 | G♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 3 | C♯ (6) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 (barre) | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 4 | B (5) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (6) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
E 6th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, 6. The major sixth C♯ added to the E major triad gives the chord a bright, ringing quality. Compare it with E major, which has only three notes.
What goes wrong with E 6th?
- Flattening the pinky onto the high e string and deadening the open string.
- Not pressing the G string hard enough, causing a buzz.
- Letting the middle finger touch the D string and mute it.
When to use it
E 6th is the tonic in E major, heard in the I–IV–V–I progression E–A–B–E. Its open-string resonance suits rock and blues. Use it to add sparkle to an E major chord in a chorus.
Changing to and from E 6th
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret gives F 6th; the open strings become fretted, so the hand must adjust.
Which voicing to use
The open shape keeps the root E in the bass and is the easiest to play. The E6/G♯ inversion at the 2nd fret places the third G♯ in the bass, which makes the chord sound lighter and less settled.
Other E chords
Common questions
How does E 6th differ from E major 7th?
E 6th adds the sixth C♯, while E major 7th adds the seventh D♯. The sixth gives a warmer, less tense sound than the seventh.
Can I play E 6th with a barre at the 11th fret?
Yes, the 11th 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 does the open shape use all six strings?
All six strings are chord tones, so they can all ring. This gives the chord a full, resonant sound.