urTuner

E6 Guitar Chord

E major sixth (E6) is made of the notes E G♯ B C♯. Here are 3 ways to play it on guitar, starting with the easiest.

How to play E6 on guitar

  1. Shape 1

    Open position

    2 3 1 4 E B E G♯ C♯ E

    022120

  2. Shape 2

    From fret 7

    7fr 3 1 E B E G♯ C♯

    x79999

  3. Shape 3

    From fret 4

    4fr 3 4 2 1 E G♯ C♯ E G♯

    x76654

Notes in E6

Formula 1 3 5 6
DegreeNote
1E
3G♯
5B
6C♯

Shape 1 step by step

  1. Put your middle finger on string 5 at fret 2.
  2. Put your ring finger on string 4 at fret 2.
  3. Put your index finger on string 3 at fret 1.
  4. Put your little finger on string 2 at fret 2.
  5. Let strings 6, 1 ring open.
  6. Strum from string 6 to string 1.

Shape 2 step by step

  1. Lay your ring finger flat across strings 4 to 1 at fret 9.
  2. Put your index finger on string 5 at fret 7.
  3. Don’t play string 6.
  4. Strum from string 5 to string 1.

Tune your guitar first

A chord only sounds right when your instrument is in tune. Check your strings with the free online tuner before you practise. Open the guitar tuner

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the E6 chord?

E major sixth has the notes E G♯ B C♯. Its formula is 1 3 5 6. The numbers are steps of the major scale, counted from the root.

What is the easiest way to play E6 on guitar?

Start with shape 1 (open position), written as 022120 from string 6 to string 1. Here x means you don’t play that string and 0 means it rings open.

Major 6th chords in every key

More tuners

Music tools

Browse all 200 tuners & tools