G6

G1B3D5E6

A major triad with a sixth added. The same four notes as a minor seventh chord a third below.

on guitar on piano the scale

Every fingering that fits a hand

Fig. 2

0202

open

Fig. 3

0402

easy · no 5

Fig. 4

0432

easy · no 5

Fig. 5

0475

easy

Fig. 6

0477

easy · no 5

What is true of it

G6 is G, B, D and E — 1, 3, 5 and 6 counted from G.

These are also the notes of Em7/G. Which name is right depends on what is underneath and what came before — the notes alone do not decide.

On an instrument that cannot reach all 4, the 5 goes first, in that order.

The easiest of the 5 fingerings below is 0202: 2 fingers, held at the 2nd fret.

1 of them use open strings, which is what makes a shape quiet to change to.

Where its notes are on the neck

Fig. 7 — first 12 frets

The brass dots are G, the root. Everything else is a chord tone with its degree printed in it.

With a different note underneath

first inversion

G6/B

4705

second inversion

G6/D

7777

third inversion

G6/E

x432

An inversion is the same chord with a different note lowest. The name changes to a slash name because the bass is what a listener hears as the foundation.

G in other shapes

Gm6minor sixth Gmajor Gmminor Gdimdiminished

C6 C♯6 D♭6 D6 D♯6 E♭6 E6 F6 all 374