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G 6th chord on guitar (G6)
Also called or 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.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 6
- Root positionG–B–D–EG63-2-0-0-0-0
- First inversionB–D–E–GG6/B×-2-0-0-0-0
- Second inversionD–E–G–BG6/D×-×-0-0-0-0
- Third inversionE–G–B–DG6/E0-2-0-0-0-0
How do you play a G 6th chord on guitar?
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.
Full note and interval 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) |
AdvancedThe hardest part is fretting the low E string at the 3rd fret with the middle finger while keeping the adjacent A string clean.
Open · 3-2-0-0-3-0
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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) |
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.
Other G chords
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.