E6 Chord on Guitar
E6 = E – G# – B – C# (Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Major 6th)
E6 is the first chord in this set that doesn't need a barre at all — E is the guitar's lowest open string, so every E-rooted E-shape chord lands right at the nut in open position. That makes E6 one of the more physically accessible extended chords on the instrument despite its jazzy-sounding name.
The notes are E, G#, B, and C# — a major triad with the sixth degree added. As I6 of E major it works as a softer alternative to the plain open E chord, common as a closing or transitional color in folk, country, and singer-songwriter material where E major is already the home key and a plain triad start to feel too static after repeating for several bars.
Fingerings
Open Position
How to Practice It
Because the whole shape sits in open position, the extra sixth-degree notes are reached with ordinary fretting-hand stretches rather than anything complicated by a barre — the main technical hurdle is simply that four separate fingers are now in play across four different strings, so clean independent finger placement (rather than barre pressure) is what this chord actually tests. It's a good one for practicing finger independence without the added burden of holding a barre at the same time.
Common Progressions
- E – E6 – E (I – I6 – I, a tonic color shift)
- A – E6 – B (IV – I6 – V in E major)
- E6 – C#m – A – B (I6 – vi – IV – V)
- E – E6 – A (I – I6 – IV, a common folk turnaround)
FAQ
- Why doesn't E6 need a barre?
- E is an open string, so the E-shape barre formula lands right at the nut for an E root, meaning every E-rooted chord in this shape family is played in ordinary open position rather than up the neck.
- Is E6 harder to play than plain open E major?
- Somewhat — it needs four separate fretting fingers instead of open E's usual three, since the added sixth requires its own dedicated finger rather than reusing one already in the chord.
- Why use E6 instead of plain E major?
- The added sixth gives a softer, more floating color than the plain triad, useful for breaking up repetition when a song stays on the E chord for an extended stretch.
- Is E6 common in folk and country guitar playing?
- Yes, more so than most of the extended chords in this set, since E major is one of the guitar's most-used open keys and 6th chords have long been a staple coloring device in folk, country, and early rock guitar parts.
- Does E6 ever substitute for C#m7?
- The two chords share three notes, so in a loose, color-focused sense they can feel interchangeable — a songwriter reaching for either one over an E or C#m harmonic area is leaning on that shared-note relationship.
- How does E6 compare in difficulty to D#6, which uses the same shape family?
- E6 is considerably easier, since it sits in open position with normal string spacing, while D#6 barres the identical shape at the cramped eleventh fret — the fingering pattern is the same, but the physical demand is completely different.
- What ear-training value does E6 offer?
- Because it's easy to switch cleanly between E, E6, and E7 in open position, it's a good chord for learning to hear the specific color each added note contributes without the extra variable of barre technique complicating the comparison.
E6 on other instruments: E6 on Piano, E6 on Ukulele. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.