G6 guitar chord: 6 ways to play G major 6th

Ways to play G6

Open position first, then up the neck. Tap a shape to put it on the fretboard above and hear it. The numbers are fingers (1 is your index), × means leave that string out, and ○ means let it ring open.

What's in G6

A major 6th chord adds the 6th to a major triad: G6 is G, B, D, E. Those are the same notes as Em7, so the name depends on which note is in the bass and what the music around it is doing.

Note	Formula	Interval from G
G	1	Root
B	3	Major 3rd
D	5	Perfect 5th
E	6	Major 6th

Sweet and a little vintage. It is a common last chord in swing, and the major-to-6th shuffle is a rock and roll rhythm part all by itself.

Keys that use G6

Every major and minor key whose scale contains all of G, B, D and E, and the chord's Roman numeral in each.

Key	G6 is the
G major	I6
D major	IV6
C major	V6
B minor	VI6
E minor	III6
A minor	VII6

Progressions to try

ii–V–I6 in G major

Ending on a 6th chord is a swing-era sound, sweeter than a maj7.

I–I6 in G major

G
G6

Alternating a major chord with its 6th, the shuffle pattern behind a lot of early rock and roll.

Other chords on G:

See every chord in the library

G6 chord