Explore chords · Ukulele
B 6th chord on ukulele (B6)
Also called or written B6 or B
B 6th contains B, D♯, F♯ and G♯. The 4th fret shape is a wide stretch, but an open inversion at the 1st fret offers relief.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 6
- Root positionB–D♯–F♯–G♯B611-11-11-11
- First inversionD♯–F♯–G♯–BB6/D♯1-3-2-2
- Second inversionF♯–G♯–B–D♯B6/F♯4-6-4-6
- Third inversionG♯–B–D♯–F♯B6/G♯8-8-7-9
How do you play a B 6th chord on ukulele?
B 6th is played at the 4th fret as 4 6 4 6: index finger on the G string at fret 4, ring finger on the C string at fret 6, middle finger on the E string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 1 | B (1) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 3 | F♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 2 | G♯ (6) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 4 | D♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach fret 6 on the A string while the index and middle hold fret 4, stretching the hand.
B6/G♯ inversion
B 6th is played at the 7th fret as 8 8 7 9: middle finger on the G string at fret 8, ring finger on the C string at fret 8, index finger on the E string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 2 | D♯ (3) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 3 | G♯ (6) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 1 | B (1) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 4 | F♯ (5) |
11th fret
B 6th is played at the 11th fret as 11 11 11 11: barre your index finger across fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 11 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 1 (barre) | B (1) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 11 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (6) |
B6/D♯ inversion
B 6th is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 2 2: index finger on the G string at fret 1, pinky finger on the C string at fret 3, middle finger on the E string at fret 2 and ring finger on the A string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1 | 1 | G♯ (6) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 4 | D♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 3 | B (1) |
Why it sounds like that
B 6th is built from the major triad B–D♯–F♯ plus the sixth, G♯. The sixth adds a warm, consonant colour to the major sound. Compare it with B major, which stops at the fifth and sounds more plain.
What goes wrong with B 6th?
- Letting the pinky flatten onto the C string, which deadens the D♯ note.
- Pressing too hard with the index, which can pull the G string sharp.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the E string, muting the F♯.
When to use it
B 6th works as the tonic in B major, especially in the I–IV–V–I progression B–E–F♯–B. It suits jazz, swing and folk where a major triad needs extra colour. Try it in place of B major at cadences.
Changing to and from B 6th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 3rd fret gives B♭ 6th.
- From B major, add the pinky on the A string at fret 6 and the ring on the C string at fret 6.
Which voicing to use
The 4th fret shape has B in the bass, giving a solid root position. The B6/G♯ inversion at the 1st fret places G♯ in the bass, which makes the chord feel lighter and more open. The B6/F♯ inversion at the 11th fret is a full barre with F♯ in the bass, useful for a smoother, higher voicing.
Other B chords
Common questions
How is B 6th written?
B 6th is written as B6 or B. The root is B, and it is not enharmonically respelled.
What is the difference between B 6th and B major 7th?
B 6th adds the sixth, G♯, while B major 7th adds the seventh, A♯. The sixth is more consonant and less tense than the major seventh.
Can B 6th be used in a minor key?
Yes, B 6th can appear in G♯ natural minor as the III chord, but it is less common. It adds a major colour to the minor progression.
Why does the 1st fret inversion sound different?
The 1st fret inversion has G♯ in the bass, which is the sixth of the chord. This inversion sounds less rooted and more airy than the root position.