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G♯m6

Character: dark, cool

  1. G♯Rtriad
  2. B♭3triad
  3. D♯5triad
  4. E♯6add
Open G♯m6 in the chord libraryDownload the G♯m6 chart (PDF)
Voicings

11 ways to play G♯m6

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
CC shape 1st inversion G♯m6/B
8 9 10 11 5 R 6 ♭3

Frets x x 9 10 9 xNotes B E♯ G♯Intervals ♭3 6 1Base triadG♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

CC shape Root position G♯m6
8 9 10 11 5 6 ♭3 R 5 ♭3

Frets x 11 9 10 0 11Notes G♯ B E♯Intervals 1 ♭3 6Base triadG♯ minor, root position

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

CC shape 2nd inversion G♯m6/D♯
8 9 10 11 6 ♭3 R 5 5 ♭3

Frets 11 11 9 10 0 11Notes D♯ G♯ B E♯Intervals 5 1 ♭3 6Base triadG♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The 6th gets a string of its own.

AA shape 2nd inversion G♯m6/D♯
1 2 3 4 6 ♭3 R 5

Frets x x 1 1 0 1Notes D♯ G♯ B E♯Intervals 5 1 ♭3 6Base triadG♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The 6th gets a string of its own.

GG shape 1st inversion G♯m6/B
1 2 3 4 6 R 5 ♭3 ♭3

Frets x 2 1 1 0 1Notes B D♯ G♯ E♯Intervals ♭3 5 1 6Base triadG♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 6th gets a string of its own.

GG shape Root position G♯m6
1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭3 R R ♭3 ♭3

Frets 4 2 3 4 0 4Notes G♯ B E♯Intervals 1 ♭3 6Base triadG♯ minor, root position

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape 1st inversion G♯m6/B
4 5 6 7 5 R 6 ♭3 R

Frets 4 x x 4 6 4Notes B E♯ G♯Intervals ♭3 6 1Base triadG♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape Root position G♯m6
4 5 6 7 5 6 ♭3 R R 5 R

Frets 4 6 6 4 6 4Notes G♯ B E♯Intervals 1 ♭3 6Base triadG♯ minor, root position

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape 2nd inversion G♯m6/D♯
4 5 6 7 6 ♭3 R 5 R R

Frets 4 6 6 4 6 4Notes D♯ G♯ B E♯Intervals 5 1 ♭3 6Base triadG♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The 6th gets a string of its own.

DD shape 2nd inversion G♯m6/E♯
6 7 8 9 10 5 ♭3 R 6

Frets x x x 10 9 7Notes E♯ G♯ BIntervals 6 1 ♭3Base triadG♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The 6th takes the 5th’s string.

DD shape 2nd inversion AnchoredG♯m6
6 7 8 9 R ♭3 6 5 R

Frets x x 6 8 6 7Notes G♯ D♯ E♯ BIntervals 1 5 6 ♭3Base triadG♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The root drops to the string below the triad. The 6th takes the root’s string.

The rules

The construction rules G♯m6 follows

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Minor 6th in every key

More chords on G♯

G♯m6 chord questions

What notes are in G♯m6?

G♯m6 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 G♯m6?

1 ♭3 5 6. It is a G♯ minor triad with the 6th stacked on top.

How many ways can you play G♯m6 on guitar?

This page shows 11 voicings of G♯m6, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.