E6 Guitar Chord

E6 is a 6th chord made of E · G♯ · B · C♯. Major triad + major 6th — sweet and a little retro. The standard shape is a barre chord at fret 1: 022120 (6th string → 1st string, x = don't play, 0 = open string).

Chord charts

Open position · root on 6th string · 022120

Fret 5 · root on 5th string · x7665x · from fret 5

Fret 9 barre · root on 6th string · 12-11-9-9-9-9 · from fret 9

Index finger on string 3 (G), fret 1.
Middle finger on string 5 (A), fret 2.
Ring finger on string 4 (D), fret 2.
Pinky finger on string 2 (B), fret 2.
Let strings 6, 1 ring open.
Strum down from string 6.

E6 guitar chord chart — fret 1 barre 022120 and 2 more shapes — All E6 shapes on one image — long-press (or right-click) to save it.

Notes in the chord

E
rootG♯
3rdB
5thC♯
6th

Play it easier with a capo

Capo on fret 2 + D6 shape → sounds as E6
Capo on fret 4 + C6 shape → sounds as E6
Capo on fret 7 + A6 shape → sounds as E6

If barre chords are hard, clamp a capo and play an open shape — it sounds exactly the same. The Buskermate app can move a whole chord sheet to any capo position for you.

Try it: capo on

Scales that fit

Other E chords

E Em E7 Emaj7 Em7 E6 Em6 Esus4 Esus2 E7sus4 Edim Edim7 Em7b5 Eaug Eadd9 E9 Em9 Emaj9

6th chords in other keys

C6 C♯6 D6 E♭6 E6 F6 F♯6 G6 A♭6 A6 B♭6 B6

FAQ

What notes are in the E6 chord?

The E6 chord is made of E, G♯, B, C♯. Major triad + major 6th — sweet and a little retro.

What's the easiest way to play E6 on guitar?

The standard shape, from the 6th string to the 1st, is 022120 (a barre chord at fret 1). If the barre is hard, put a capo on fret 2 and play a D6 shape — it sounds the same.

Which scale works for soloing over E6?

E major or E major pentatonic fits well.

🎸 Transpose a whole chord sheet — Buskermate
Upload a PDF song sheet and Buskermate reads the chords and moves them to any key or capo position (the app is in Korean for now).