Tools / Chords / G 6th

G 6th chord on guitar (G6)

Also written G6 or G

G 6th is built from G, B, D and E. This open-position shape is advanced because the low E string must be fretted cleanly at the third fret.

Open · 3-2-0-0-0-03-2-0-0-0-0

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

G1Root

B3Major 3rd

D5Perfect 5th

E6Major 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 positionG–B–D–EG6Bass G

First inversionB–D–E–GG6/BBass B

Second inversionD–E–G–BG6/DBass D

Third inversionE–G–B–DG6/EBass E

Why it sounds like that

G 6th adds a major 6th to the G major triad. The major 6th interval from G to E gives the chord its warm, resolved color. Compare it with G major, which stops at the perfect 5th.

What goes wrong with G 6th?

The index finger on the 5th string, 2nd fret, deadens the open D string.
The middle finger on the 6th string, 3rd fret, mutes the A string.
Strumming all six strings without fretting the low E string produces an E bass instead of G.

When to use it

G 6th works as a tonic in G major, especially in progressions like G–C–D–G (I–IV–V–I). It suits folk, country and pop styles where a bright, open sound is desired. Use it to add color to a G major chord.

Changing to and from G 6th

Move to <a href="/guitar/g-major-chord">G major</a> by lifting the middle finger from the 6th string, 3rd fret, and keeping the index finger on the 5th string, 2nd fret.
Slide the shape down one fret to the 1st fret to get F♯ 6th.

Which voicing to use

The open position is the easiest and most resonant, with G in the bass. The 2nd fret barre version keeps G in the bass but sounds tighter. The 5th fret voicing has G on the 4th string, 5th fret, and is useful for higher-register playing.

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

Open · 3-2-0-0-0-0

Beginner● On the diagram

G 6th is played in open position as 3 2 0 0 0 0: middle finger on the low E string at fret 3 and index finger on the A string at fret 2. The D, G, B and high e strings ring open.

Tip — The hardest part is fretting the low E string at the 3rd fret with the middle finger while keeping the adjacent A string clean.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Open · 3-2-0-0-3-0

Beginner

G 6th is played in open position as 3 2 0 0 3 0: middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, index finger on the A string at fret 2 and ring finger on the B string at fret 3. The D, G and high e strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Open · 3-2-2-0-3-0

Beginner

G 6th is played in open position as 3 2 2 0 3 0: ring finger on the low E string at fret 3, index finger on the A string at fret 2, middle finger on the D string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 3. The G and high e strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

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

2nd fret

Barre

G 6th is played at the 2nd fret as 3 2 2 4 3 ×: barre your index finger across fret 2, middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, pinky finger on the G string at fret 4 and ring finger on the B string at fret 3. The high e string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

5th fret

Intermediate

G 6th is played at the 5th fret as × × 5 7 5 7: index finger on the D string at fret 5, ring finger on the G string at fret 7, middle finger on the B string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 7. The low E and A strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Common questions

How is G 6th written?

G 6th is written as G6 or G. The root note is G.

What is the difference between G 6th and G major 7th?

G 6th contains the note E, while G major 7th contains F♯. The 6th chord has a warmer, less dissonant sound than the major 7th.

Can G 6th be played with a barre?

Yes, a barre version exists at the 2nd fret. It uses the same notes but with a different voicing and a tighter sound.

Why is the low E string fretted at the 3rd fret?

Fretting the low E string at the 3rd fret produces the note G, which is the root of the chord. This keeps the bass note as G rather than E.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

B (3)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

open

—

G (1)

2 (B)

open

—

B (3)

1 (e)

open

—

E (6)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

B (3)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

open

—

G (1)

2 (B)

D (5)

1 (e)

open

—

E (6)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

B (3)

4 (D)

E (6)

3 (G)

open

—

G (1)

2 (B)

D (5)

1 (e)

open

—

E (6)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

B (3)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

E (6)

3 (G)

B (3)

2 (B)

D (5)

1 (e)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

G (1)

3 (G)

D (5)

2 (B)

E (6)

1 (e)

B (3)