FMFretboardMentor
PL

E6 Chord on Guitar

E6 is the E major 6th chord — 4 notes (E, G♯, B, C♯) built from the formula 1 3 5 6. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: E · G♯ · B · C♯Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 6Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

E6: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • E6 – open positionR6R35Ropen position
  • E6 – fret 1××R363fret 1
  • E6 – fret 2××R563fret 2
  • E6 – fret 55×R36R×fret 5
  • E6 – fret 66×R3635fret 6
  • E6 – fret 99R35R36fret 9
  • E6 – fret 1111R3635×fret 11
  • E6 – fret 1212××R36Rfret 12

E6: Drop 2 voicings

  • E6 – bass: 565R36××bass: 5
  • E6 – bass: 5×5R36×bass: 5
  • E6 – bass: 59××5R36bass: 5
  • E6 – bass: 69635R××bass: 6
  • E6 – bass: 64×635R×bass: 6
  • E6 – bass: 611××635Rbass: 6
  • E6 – bass: R11R563××bass: R
  • E6 – bass: R6×R563×bass: R
  • E6 – bass: R××R563bass: R
  • E6 – bass: 336R5××bass: 3
  • E6 – bass: 39×36R5×bass: 3
  • E6 – bass: 35××36R5bass: 3

E6: Drop 3 voicings

  • E6 – bass: 33×R56×bass: 3
  • E6 – bass: 39×3×R56bass: 3
  • E6 – bass: 555×36R×bass: 5
  • E6 – bass: 512×5×36Rbass: 5
  • E6 – bass: 696×5R3×bass: 6
  • E6 – bass: 6×6×5R3bass: 6
  • E6 – bass: R11R×635×bass: R
  • E6 – bass: R6×R×635bass: R

E6: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • E6 – R-3-711R36×××R-3-7
  • E6 – R-3-76×R36××R-3-7
  • E6 – R-7-311R×63××R-7-3
  • E6 – R-7-36×R×63×R-7-3

Keys that contain E6

Scales to play over E6

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain E, G♯, B, C♯.

Other E chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Major 6th chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the E6 chord?
E6 (E major 6th) contains E, G♯, B, C♯ — formula 1 3 5 6.
How do you play E6 on guitar?
A common shape is 042100 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with E6?
Good choices to solo over E6: E Ionian (Major), E Major pentatonic, E Lydian.
What key is E6 in?
E6 is diatonic in E major (I6), A major (V6), B major (IV6), C♯ minor (♭III6), F♯ minor (♭VII6), G♯ minor (♭VI6).