G6 chord
Sweet and vintage. A major chord with an added 6th, common in jazz, rockabilly, and 1950s pop.
G major 6th · 3 voicings
Notes in G6
How to Play G6
Open position
3 2 0 0 0 0
Barre, E6 shape
3 5 5 4 5 3
Barre, A6 shape
x 10 12 12 12 12
Numbers under each diagram are frets, string 6 (thickest) to string 1. x means don't play that string; 0 means play it open.
How G6 Relates to Other Chords
G6 contains exactly the same notes as Em7 — the two are the same chord voiced from a different root, so one shape covers both.
It is built on G with an extra note added on top, so it can stand in wherever that chord appears.
Playing tips for G6
G6 has an open-position shape, which means some strings ring open and it is playable without barring. Press just behind the fret rather than on top of it, keep your fingertips arched so they do not deaden neighbouring strings, and strum only the strings the diagram marks as played.
If a string buzzes or sounds dead, the usual causes are a fingertip leaning against it, not quite enough pressure, or a finger too far behind the fret. Play each string one at a time to find which one is failing before adjusting the whole shape — and make sure your guitar is in tune first, since an out-of-tune string will make a correct shape sound wrong. Use our free online tuner to check.
Related Chords
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