G6 chord on piano
The G6 chord, or G major 6th, stacks 4 notes on G: G, B, D and E. Musicians write its formula 1 3 5 6.
Notes and intervals of G6
Each note of G6 has a job. Counted from the root, you get root (G), major 3rd (B), perfect 5th (D) and major 6th (E). Change one of these intervals and you get a different chord, which is why the formula 1 3 5 6 is worth memorising rather than the shape alone.
| Degree | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | root | G |
| 3 | major 3rd | B |
| 5 | perfect 5th | D |
| 6 | major 6th | E |
How to play G6 on piano
Put your right-hand thumb on G, then add the other notes: G, B, D and E. Teachers usually suggest the fingering 1-2-3-5 (left hand: 5-3-2-1). Press the keys together, release, and repeat until the chord sounds even.
Inversions of G6
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts another one in the bass. G6 has 3 inversions besides root position: 1st inversion (B D E G), 2nd inversion (D E G B) and 3rd inversion (E G B D). Inversions let you move between chords with tiny hand movements, which is how pianists make progressions sound smooth.
Which keys use G6?
G6 is not built from the notes of a single major key, so it usually appears as a colour chord: a borrowed chord, a passing chord or a suspension that resolves to the next chord.
Scales to play over G6
These scales share every note of G6: G major scale, G major pentatonic scale, G Lydian mode and G Mixolydian mode. G major scale is the safest choice; the others add more colour.
About major 6th chords
A major triad with a major sixth added: 1 3 5 6. Sweet, warm and a little nostalgic, the 6 chord is stable and needs no resolution. It sounds older and more 'swing' than a maj7, which is why it was the standard tonic chord of 1930s and 1940s jazz. For example C6: C E G A.
Use it on I and IV as a tonic colour: swing, gypsy jazz, rockabilly, early rock and roll and bossa nova often end songs on a 6. The classic boogie riff moves 5, 6, ♭7, 6 over each chord of a blues. In pop, a I6 replaces Imaj7 when the major seventh sounds too dreamy.
In root position the 5 and 6 sit side by side; if that sounds cluttered, play root and fifth in the left hand, 3, 6 and octave in the right. Keep the root in the bass: with the sixth in the bass, a 6 chord is heard as an inversion of a m7 chord. Add the 9 for a modern 6/9 tonic.
6 versus m7: C6 and Am7 contain the same notes, and only the bass and context decide. 6 versus 13: a 13 chord contains a ♭7, a 6 chord does not. And do not mix up chord symbols with classical figured bass, where '6' means first inversion, not an added sixth.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the G6 chord?
G6 (G major 6th) contains G, B, D and E. In intervals: root (G), major 3rd (B), perfect 5th (D) and major 6th (E).
How do you play G6 on piano?
Play G, B, D and E together with the right-hand fingering 1-2-3-5. You can also play it in 3 inversions, shown on this page.
What scale goes with G6?
G major scale fits G6 best. Other scales that contain all its notes: G major pentatonic scale, G Lydian mode and G Mixolydian mode.
What key is G6 in?
G6 does not belong to a single major key. It is used as a colour chord that borrows notes from outside the key.
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