G6
Character: sweet
- GRtriad
- B3triad
- D5triad
- E6add
15 ways to play G6
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 x 10 9 9 8 10Notes B E GIntervals 3 6 1Base triadG major, 1st inversion
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets x 10 9 9 0 10Notes G B EIntervals 1 3 6Base triadG major, root position
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets 10 10 9 9 0 10Notes D G B EIntervals 5 1 3 6Base triadG major, 2nd inversion
The 6th gets a string of its own.
Frets x x 0 0 0 0Notes D G B EIntervals 5 1 3 6Base triadG major, 2nd inversion
The 6th gets a string of its own.
Frets x 10 12 12 12 12Notes D G B EIntervals 5 1 3 6Base triadG major, 2nd inversion
The 6th gets a string of its own.
Frets x x x 12 12 12Notes G B EIntervals 1 3 6Base triadG major, root position
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets 3 2 0 0 0 0Notes B D G EIntervals 3 5 1 6Base triadG major, 1st inversion
The 6th gets a string of its own.
Frets 3 2 2 0 0 3Notes G B EIntervals 1 3 6Base triadG major, root position
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets 3 5 5 4 5 3Notes B E GIntervals 3 6 1Base triadG major, 1st inversion
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets 3 x 5 4 5 xNotes G B EIntervals 1 3 6Base triadG major, root position
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets 3 5 5 4 5 xNotes D G B EIntervals 5 1 3 6Base triadG major, 2nd inversion
The 6th gets a string of its own.
Frets 7 5 5 9 0 7Notes B D G EIntervals 3 5 1 6Base triadG major, 1st inversion
The 6th gets a string of its own.
Frets 3 5 2 4 0 xNotes G D E BIntervals 1 5 6 3Base triadG major, 2nd inversion
The root drops to the string below the triad. The 6th takes the root’s string.
Frets x x x 9 8 7Notes E G BIntervals 6 1 3Base triadG major, 2nd inversion
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets x x 5 7 5 7Notes G D E BIntervals 1 5 6 3Base triadG major, 2nd inversion
The root drops to the string below the triad. The 6th takes the root’s string.
The construction rules G6 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.
The root can move down
When an extension needs the root’s string, the root can drop to the string below the triad: an anchored voicing keeps the bass and frees a string on top.
All the rules, with examples, in the guide to the chord library.
Major 6th in every key
More chords on G
G6 chord questions
What notes are in G6?
G6 is spelled G B D E: G is the root, B is the 3rd, D is the 5th, E is the 6th.
What is the formula of G6?
1 3 5 6. It is a G major triad with the 6th stacked on top.
How many ways can you play G6 on guitar?
This page shows 15 voicings of G6, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.