What notes are in a G6 chord?

G6 contains four notes: G (root), B (major third), D (perfect fifth), and E (major sixth).

How do you play G6 on guitar?

The open G6 voicing is 320000: G (3rd fret 6th string), B (2nd fret 5th string), open D, open G, open B, open high E.

Is G6 the same as E minor 7?

Enharmonically yes — same four pitches. G6 has G as root (major tonic); Em7 has E as root (minor 7th).

Countless folk and country tunes in G use G6 instead of plain G major for a brighter sound. The Beatles' "Day Tripper" and many other 60s pop hits pass through G6-related voicings.

G major 6 chord — notes, intervals, and practice

G6 — G, B, D, E — is a G major triad with an added major sixth. All four notes are naturals. The chord is one of the friendliest 6-chord spellings, and on guitar the open G6 voicing (320000) is one of the very easiest chords to finger — almost identical to open G major.

Intervals

The G major 6 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:

G→Bmajor 3rd4 semitones
B→Dminor 3rd3 semitones
D→Emajor 2nd2 semitones

On the keyboard

Each note of the G major 6 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.

On the guitar

One voicing of the G major 6 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.

Common mistakes

G6 has E natural as its sixth — a half-step lower than Gmaj7 (which has F♯). The most common error is reading G6 as G7 (which has F natural). On guitar, the open G6 voicing (320000) just removes the high-string finger from open G major, letting the open E ring as the sixth.

In context

G6 is the I chord in G major (often substituted for plain G major for a brighter, more complete sound). Country and folk in G use G6 constantly; jazz ballads in G resolve to G6 as a final tonic. The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" hovers around G-related 6-chord voicings.

Drill it

The G major 6 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.

Open the Chord Trainer →Or try today's Etudle puzzle

Frequently asked

What notes are in a G6 chord?: G6 contains four notes: G (root), B (major third), D (perfect fifth), and E (major sixth).
How do you play G6 on guitar?: The open G6 voicing is 320000: G (3rd fret 6th string), B (2nd fret 5th string), open D, open G, open B, open high E.
Is G6 the same as E minor 7?: Enharmonically yes — same four pitches. G6 has G as root (major tonic); Em7 has E as root (minor 7th).
What pieces use G6?: Countless folk and country tunes in G use G6 instead of plain G major for a brighter sound. The Beatles' "Day Tripper" and many other 60s pop hits pass through G6-related voicings.