Explore the G6 Chord: Visualize Fretboard Shapes & Play

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The G major sixth chord (G6) is spelled G, B, D and E. The E on top of a plain G major triad is the major sixth that gives the chord its name.

There are 18 voicings on this page, 13 of them with open strings and two using a barre. A sixth chord is also known as an added-sixth chord: a major triad with the sixth on top. Solo with the G major pentatonic scale: it includes every one of these four notes. Moving into and out of it is covered in chord transition tips.

Press play on the fretboard player at the top to hear G6 strummed and as an arpeggio.

G major 6th guitar chord is also written as G6, Gmaj6, GM6 or Gadd6.

G 6 chord Notes:

G B D E

How to create the Major Sixth chord:

Formula: 1 3 5 6

G 6 Guitar Chord Diagrams

Position 1 Open

Finger Positions

Let the D string play without pressing any fret
Let the G string play without pressing any fret
Let the B string play without pressing any fret
Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the low E string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 2 of the A string

Position 2 Barre Movable

Finger Positions

Mute the A string
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the low E and high E strings at the same time
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 4 of the G string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the D string
Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 5 of the B string

Position 3 Movable

Finger Positions

Mute the low E string
Mute the high E string
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 8 of the B string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 9 of the D string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 9 of the G string
Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 10 of the A string

Position 4 Open

Finger Positions

Mute the low E string
Mute the A string
Mute the D string
Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the B string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 4 of the G string

Position 5 Open

Finger Positions

Let the B string play without pressing any fret
Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the low E string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 4 of the G string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the A string
Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 5 of the D string

Position 6 Open

Finger Positions

Mute the low E string
Mute the A string
Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the B string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 4 of the G string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the D string

Position 7 Open

Finger Positions

Mute the low E string
Mute the A string
Let the D string play without pressing any fret
Let the G string play without pressing any fret
Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the B string

Position 8 Open

Finger Positions

Mute the low E string
Let the G string play without pressing any fret
Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 8 of the B string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 9 of the D string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 10 of the A string

Position 9 Barre Movable

Finger Positions

Mute the low E string
Mute the A string
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the high E string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 4 of the G string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the D and B strings at the same time

Position 10 Open

Finger Positions

Mute the low E string
Mute the A string
Mute the D string
Let the G string play without pressing any fret
Let the B string play without pressing any fret
Let the high E string play without pressing any fret

Position 11 Open

Finger Positions

Let the D string play without pressing any fret
Let the G string play without pressing any fret
Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 2 of the A string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 3 of the low E string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the B string

Position 12 Movable

Finger Positions

Mute the A string
Mute the high E string
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 2 of the D string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 3 of the low E string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the B string
Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 4 of the G string

Position 13 Open

Finger Positions

Mute the low E string
Mute the A string
Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 4 of the G string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the D string
Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 5 of the B string

Position 14 Open

Finger Positions

Mute the A string
Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the low E string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 3 of the B string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 4 of the G string
Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 5 of the D string

Position 15 Open

Finger Positions

Mute the low E string
Let the B string play without pressing any fret
Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 4 of the G string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 5 of the A string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the D string

Position 16 Movable

Finger Positions

Mute the D string
Mute the G string
Mute the B string
Mute the high E string
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the low E string
Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 7 of the A string

Position 17 Open

Finger Positions

Let the low E string play without pressing any fret
Let the B string play without pressing any fret
Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 4 of the G string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 5 of the A string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the D string

Position 18 Open

Finger Positions

Mute the A string
Let the D string play without pressing any fret
Let the G string play without pressing any fret
Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the low E string
Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 3 of the B string

Find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you prefer a printable pdf, download the Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf

Play This Chord With Other Roots

C 6 | D 6 | E 6 | F 6 | G 6 | A 6 | B 6 | C#6 | D#6 | F#6 | G#6 | A#6 | Ab6 | Bb6 | Db6 | Eb6 | Gb6

Want to Learn Everything About Chords?

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In the ebook you can also find maps show you the tones in a chord all along the fretboard. They are incredibly helpful because allow you to:

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Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher

FAQ

What notes are in G major sixth?

G major sixth contains G, B, D and E. E is the major sixth, nine semitones up from G, added to the G major triad.

How many ways are there to play G6?

G6 has 18 voicings, 13 of them with open strings and 2 with a barre. The highest one reaches the 10th fret.

Which scale matches G6?

The G major pentatonic scale: G, A, B, D, E. It holds all four chord tones, and A is the only extra note.

Does G6 have the same notes as Em7?

Yes. G, B, D and E are the notes of Em7, which spells E, G, B, D. Which name fits depends on which note acts as the root.