Em6 chord on guitar

Em6 is E, G, B and C♯. The easiest shape is 0-2-2-0-2-0. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

0-2-2-0-2-0 · open · easy

Notes: E · G · B · C♯
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · 5 · 6
First shape: 0-2-2-0-2-0

How to play Em6 on guitar

Shape 1, 0-2-2-0-2-0, reading from the low E string on the left:

Index finger: A string, 2nd fret (B).
Middle finger: D string, 2nd fret (E).
Ring finger: B string, 2nd fret (C♯).
Let the open low E, G and high E strings ring (E, G and E).

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.

Other ways to play Em6

12-14-14-12-14-12: barre shape at the 12th fret, medium. Root on the 6th string: move it up or down and it names a different minor sixth chord.
x-7-9-6-8-x: movable shape at the 6th fret, medium. The root is on the A string; it's the Am6 shape moved up the neck.
12-10-9-9-12-9: partial barre shape at the 9th fret, medium. Higher up the neck it sounds brighter; handy when another guitar is already playing a lower shape.

Em6 the capo way

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open Dm6 shape (x-x-0-2-0-1) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open Am6 shape (x-0-2-2-1-2). The chord sounds as Em6 because the capo raises every string by 2 half steps.

Em6 chord changes

Songs rarely hold Em6 for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

A (V in D major): Em6 (0-2-2-0-2-0) to A (x-0-2-2-2-0): your ring finger stays put, the index finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the G string at the same fret. Shared notes: E and C♯. A on guitar
G (IV in D major): Em6 (0-2-2-0-2-0) to G (3-2-0-0-0-3): your index finger stays put, move the middle finger to the low E string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the high E string, 3rd fret. The two chords share G and B, which is why the change sounds smooth. G on guitar
D (I in D major): Em6 (0-2-2-0-2-0) to D (x-x-0-2-3-2): move the index finger to the G string, 2nd fret, the middle finger goes to the high E string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the B string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. D on guitar

Em6 is E minor with a major sixth added. Em6 sounds moody and cinematic and often replaces Em as the home chord of a minor jazz tune. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

Practice Em6 in two minutes

Before strumming, play 0-2-2-0-2-0 note by note: E then B then E then G then C♯ then E. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Next, alternate 0-2-2-0-2-0 and 12-14-14-12-14-12, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Keys and progressions with Em6

Em6 on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try Em6 on ukulele or Em6 on piano, or compare them on the Em6 chord page.

Related E chords on guitar

Other minor sixth chords

Em6 on guitar: questions

What notes are in Em6 on guitar?

E, G, B and C♯. In the 0-2-2-0-2-0 shape the strings play E (low E string, open), B (A string), E (D string), G (G string, open), C♯ (B string) and E (high E string, open), so E are doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Em6 on guitar?

0-2-2-0-2-0, shape 1 above. No barre: some strings ring open.

Is Em6 a barre chord on guitar?

Not usually: 0-2-2-0-2-0 needs no barre. There are barre versions further up the neck, shown below it.

Which string does Em6 start on?

In the 0-2-2-0-2-0 shape the lowest string you play is the low E string, open, which is E, the root.

Every shape above plays only E, G, B and C♯, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.