1,008 guitar chords with several shapes each, finger numbers, difficulty and real sound, in any tuning.
E6 is a major sixth chord made of 4 notes: E, G♯, B, C♯. It sounds sweet and old-fashioned, and you hear it in swing, country, surf and the last chord of a jazz tune. It is the I chord of E major and turns up in 5 other keys.
The library above opens on E6 with 14 shapes up and down the neck, starting with hand-checked ones. Tap a shape to hear it, or play it one string at a time.
| Note | Degree | Interval from E | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | 1 | root | 0 |
| G♯ | 3 | major third | 4 |
| B | 5 | perfect fifth | 7 |
| C♯ | 6 | major sixth | 9 |
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 6. On guitar the 5th is often left out of the bigger shapes without changing the chord.
022120xx212004210004x40402x12x046600The fret 4 shape is the one to learn first. Once it is easy, try the shape at the 7th fret (x79999): the same chord, higher and brighter, handy when the chords before and after it sit up the neck.
E6 belongs to 6 keys: I in E major, V in A major, IV in B major, III in C♯ minor, VII in F♯ minor, VI in G♯ minor. In E major, try I–V–vi–IV: E6 – B – C♯m – A.
E, G♯, B, C♯: the root, major third, fifth, sixth.
Fret 4: 046600 (low string first), rated Beginner.
E6 has G♯ and C♯ where Em7 has G and D. E6 sounds sweet and old-fashioned; Em7 sounds soft and mellow, a minor chord with the edge taken off.
No. The easiest shape is rated Beginner and needs 3 fingers.