G#6 Chord on Guitar
G#6 = G# – C – D# – F (Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Major 6th)
G#6 sits at the fourth fret, one position higher than G6 and built the identical way: the note holding the fifth in the plain G# major barre slides two frets higher to become the major sixth. Guitarists who read this chord off an Ab-major chart will recognize it as Ab6, the same shape under its flat-key spelling.
G#-C-D#-F (spelled G#, B#/C, D#, F using sharp-key convention where practical): root, major third, sixth in place of the fifth, doubled root. As with any major-sixth chord, the color reads as brighter and jazzier than a plain triad, evoking swing-era dance-band endings more than rock or metal harmony. In G# major it works as a tonic substitute; as IV6 in D# major it lends that key's subdominant a lift without disturbing its basic function.
Fingerings
Barre (4th fret)
How to Practice It
Get the plain G# major barre solid, then practice sliding just the finger holding the fifth up two frets to the sixth, keeping the rest of the barre locked in place. Because this position sits a bit further from open position than the F# and G versions of the same shape, spend extra time checking that the barre finger maintains even pressure across all six strings even as the hand works further up the neck.
Common Progressions
- G#6 – C# – G#6 (I6 – IV – I6 in G# major, a swing-style tonic loop)
- D# – G#6 – Fm (V – I6 – vi in G# major)
- G#6 – C#6 – D#7 (parallel sixth-chord motion into a dominant resolution)
- Fm – G#6 – C# – D# (vi – I6 – IV – V, using the sixth as a brighter tonic color)
FAQ
- What changes between G# major and G#6?
- The note holding the fifth moves up two frets to the major sixth, while every other string in the fourth-fret barre stays exactly where it is.
- Is G#6 the same shape as G6 just moved up a fret?
- Yes — it's the identical movable E-shape pattern with the sixth substituted for the fifth, slid one fret higher to change the root from G to G#.
- Is G#6 often written as Ab6 instead?
- Yes — many charts, especially horn-influenced or jazz ones, prefer the flat spelling Ab6 for this exact pitch collection, though the fingering and sound are identical regardless of which name is used.
- Does G#6 work as a substitute for G# major in a chart?
- Usually yes, since it keeps the root and third intact and simply brightens the color by swapping the fifth for a sixth, which rarely conflicts with other harmony written for the plain triad.
- Is G#6 much harder to play than plain G# major?
- No — it's the same barre with one finger repositioned two frets higher, so the physical demand stays essentially identical to the plain major chord.
G#6 on other instruments: G#6 on Piano, G#6 on Ukulele. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.