E6 chord
E6 is E, G♯, B and C♯: 1–3–5–6 built on E. See and hear it on all three instruments below.
On guitar
0-2-2-1-2-0 · open · medium
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B · C♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 6
- First shape
- 0-2-2-1-2-0
E6 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · E–G♯–B–C♯ · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B · C♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 6
E6 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
1-1-0-2 · open · easy
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B · C♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 6
- First shape
- 1-1-0-2
E6 and the chords around it
The moves below are the ones you'll meet most, shown for guitar and piano.
- E6 → A (IV in E major)
Guitar: E6 (0-2-2-1-2-0) to A (x-0-2-2-2-0): your index finger lands on the D string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the B string, 2nd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. E and C♯ carry over from one chord to the other.
Piano: E6 to A: play A in 2nd inversion (E–A–C♯) and E and C♯ stay under the same fingers, while G♯ moves up to A. A - E6 → B (V in E major)
Guitar: E6 (0-2-2-1-2-0) to B (x-2-4-4-4-2): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 4th fret, your ring finger lands on the G string, 4th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Shared note: B.
Piano: E6 to B: play B in 1st inversion (D♯–F♯–B) and B stays under the same finger, while E moves down to D♯ and E up to F♯. B - E6 → C♯m (vi in E major)
Guitar: E6 (0-2-2-1-2-0) to C♯m (x-4-6-6-5-4): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 4th fret, move the middle finger to the B string, 5th fret, your ring finger lands on the D string, 6th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. The two chords share E, G♯ and C♯, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: E6 to C♯m: play C♯m in 1st inversion (E–G♯–C♯) and E, G♯ and C♯ stay under the same fingers. C♯m
Guitar with a capo: capo 2, D6 shape; capo 4, C6 shape; capo 7, A6 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 2, D6 shape; capo 4, C6 shape.
How E6 is built
E6 is E major with a major sixth added. It sounds sweet and a little vintage, the classic last chord of a swing tune, and it shares all its notes with C♯m7.
From E, go 4 half steps up to G♯, 3 half steps up to B then 2 half steps up to C♯.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | root | 0 | |
| G♯ | major third | 4 | |
| B | perfect fifth | 7 | |
| C♯ | major sixth | 9 |
Keys and progressions with E6
No major or natural minor key contains E6 as one of its own chords; it turns up as a passing chord on the way somewhere else.
Chords close to E6
- E6 is E plus C♯. E
Chords that share most of their notes with E6: C♯m7, C♯m, E, C♯7, C♯m6, C♯m7♭5.
Every E chord
E6 chord: questions
What notes are in the E6 chord?
E, G♯, B and C♯. E6 is built 1–3–5–6 from E: G♯ is the major third, B is the perfect fifth and C♯ is the major sixth.
How do you play E6 on guitar?
The usual shape is 0-2-2-1-2-0 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play E6 on piano?
Play E, G♯, B and C♯ with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. E sits just right of the pair of black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play E6 on ukulele?
1-1-0-2 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is E6 in?
No major or natural minor key contains E6 as one of its own chords; it turns up as a passing chord on the way somewhere else.
What's the difference between E6 and E?
E6 is E plus C♯.
All three instruments are drawn and played from E, G♯, B and C♯ by the same engine. Updated September 2026.