E6 E major sixth chord
- Notes
- E G# B C#
- Formula
- 1 3 5 6
- Semitones
- 0 4 7 9 above the root
- Other symbols
- EM6, Emaj6
E to G# is a major third (4 semitones), G# to B is a minor third (3 semitones), B to C# is a major second (2 semitones). A major triad plus the major sixth, C#, nine semitones above E. With C# in the bass the same four keys read as C#m7: which name fits depends on the bass note.
E6 on the piano
Root position from E4: E4, G#4, B4, C#5. Middle C is C4.
E6 on the guitar
Standard tuning (E A D G B E). Strings run low E on the left to high e on the right, frets downwards; × is a muted string, ○ an open string, and each dot shows the note it sounds, with the root in blue-green. Every shape below has E as its lowest note.
0 2 2 1 2 0 (low E to high e)
Sounds E2 B2 E3 G#3 C#4 E4
x 7 9 9 9 9 (low E to high e)
Sounds E3 B3 E4 G#4 C#5
12 x 11 13 12 x (low E to high e)
Sounds E3 C#4 G#4 B4
The E-shape and A-shape grips are movable: an E-shape chord's root is the note under your first finger on the low E string, an A-shape chord's root is the note on the A string. Slide the same grip up or down to play major sixth chords on other roots.
Inversions of E6
An inversion puts a note other than the root in the bass. The name is what semicord's chord finder calls those notes played bottom to top; a slash name like C/E means a C chord with E in the bass.
| Position | Notes, bass first | Named | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | E G# B C# | E6 | |
| 1st inversion | G# B C# E | C#m7/G# (also read as E6/G#) | |
| 2nd inversion | B C# E G# | C#m7/B (also read as E6/B) | |
| 3rd inversion | C# E G# B | C#m7 (also read as E6/C#) |
Where E6 fits
E6 is I6 in E major, IV6 in B major. As a final tonic chord it is the swing-era and early rock and roll alternative to Emaj7: the sixth, C#, adds colour without the half-step rub between E and a major seventh.