E6 Chord on Guitar
Notes E G♯ B C♯. Start with open E6 (0 2 2 1 2 0): the open E shape with string 2 fretted at 2 instead of open.
Chord · E6 major 6th
Open E6 · 0 2 2 1 2 0
open strings
E6, root on string 4 (fret 2) · x x 2 4 2 4
movable, no open strings
E6, 4 strings (fret 9) · x x 9 9 9 9
movable, no open strings
1 E3 G♯5 B6 C♯
- String 6 (low E): open
- String 5 (A): middle (2), fret 2
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 2
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 1
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 2
- String 1 (high e): open
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 2
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 4
- String 2 (B): middle (2), fret 2
- String 1 (high e): pinky (4), fret 4
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 4 to 1 at fret 9
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 9
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 9
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 9
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 9
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from E |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | root |
| 3 | G♯ | major 3rd |
| 5 | B | perfect 5th |
| 6 | C♯ | major 6th |
Formula 1 3 5 6 (major 6th).
Keys that contain E6
| Key | E6 is the |
|---|---|
| E major | I6 |
| B major | IV6 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing E6: what goes wrong
Open E with a fourth finger
Open E is 0 2 2 1 0 0. For E6, pinky onto string 2 fret 2: that C♯ is the 6th. All six strings sound.
Same notes as C♯m7
E6 is E, G♯, B, C♯; C♯m7 is C♯, E, G♯, B. The low E in the bass makes it E6.
Upper-string version
x x 2 4 2 4 plays E, B, C♯ and G♯ on the top four strings: a thinner, brighter E6 without the low strings.
Related chords
Learn and practise E6
- Metronomepractise the change to E6 at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in E6?
E, G♯, B, C♯: the 1, 3, 5, 6 of the E6 major 6th chord.
What is the difference between E and E6?
E6 adds C♯, the major 6th: E, G♯, B, C♯. In the open shape only string 2 changes, from open B to C♯ at fret 2.