Em6/9
Character: dark, open
- ERtriad
- G♭3triad
- B5triad
- C♯6add
- F♯9add
3 ways to play Em6/9
Every voicing sits inside one of the five CAGED shapes, low to high on the neck, with its octave doublings in grey.
- Triad note
- Substitute
- Added
- Anchored root
- Bass
- Doubling
Frets 0 7 5 6 7 0Notes E G C♯ F♯Intervals 1 ♭3 6 9Base triadE minor, root position
The 6th takes the 5th’s string. The 9th gets a string of its own.
Frets 12 10 11 11 0 0Notes E G C♯ F♯Intervals 1 ♭3 6 9Base triadE minor, root position
The 6th takes the 5th’s string. The 9th gets a string of its own.
Frets 0 2 2 0 2 2Notes B E G C♯ F♯Intervals 5 1 ♭3 6 9Base triadE minor, 2nd inversion
The 6th gets a string of its own. The 9th gets a string of its own.
The construction rules Em6/9 follows
Start from a triad
Root, 3rd and 5th, stacked in thirds. The 3rd makes it major or minor; the 5th makes it diminished or augmented when it moves.
No 7th, no stack
6, add9, add11 and 6/9 are a triad with a colour note, not a stack. Without a 7th the chord sounds open rather than jazzy.
On guitar, something has to give
Each extension takes the string of a triad note that matters less, usually the 5th, or gets a string of its own. The root and 3rd stay: they say what the chord is.
All the rules, with examples, in the guide to the chord library.
Minor 6/9 in every key
More chords on E
Em6/9 chord questions
What notes are in Em6/9?
Em6/9 is spelled E G B C♯ F♯: E is the root, G is the ♭3rd, B is the 5th, C♯ is the 6th, F♯ is the 9th.
What is the formula of Em6/9?
1 ♭3 5 6 9. It is a E minor triad with the 6th, 9th stacked on top.
How many ways can you play Em6/9 on guitar?
This page shows 3 voicings of Em6/9, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.