E sixth chord (E6) on piano
The E sixth chord (E6) on piano has 4 notes: E, G sharp, B, and C sharp (E, G♯, B, C♯). On the keyboard below, the root (E) has the strongest color; each key shows the note name and the degree.
- Notes
- EG♯BC♯
- Formula
- 1356
How to play E6 on piano
Root position · From low to high: E G♯ B C♯
The small dot marks middle C (C4). Tap a key to hear the note.
E6 chord inversions
Inverting a chord means putting another of its notes in the bass (the lowest key) without changing the notes. Inversions shorten the way your hand travels from one chord to the next and slightly change the color of the sound.
-
1st inversion (E6/G#)
E6/G#: G sharp (3) in the bass
From low to high: G♯ B C♯ E
-
2nd inversion (E6/B)
E6/B: B (5) in the bass
From low to high: B C♯ E G♯
Notes and intervals of E6
E6 (E sixth) is built from 4 notes. Each one fills a degree of the chord:
- E · 1 · root
- G♯ · 3 · major third
- B · 5 · perfect fifth
- C♯ · 6 · major sixth
About the sixth chord
A major chord with a sixth: cheerful, "round" and a little retro, without the tension of a seventh. Typical of swing, choro and bossa, and of endings in old-school jazz; in rock'n'roll, alternating the major chord with the 6 is the basis of many riffs.
Other E chords
- E
- Em
- E7
- E7M
- Em7
- Em7(b5)
- E°
- E°7
- E+
- Esus2
- Esus4
- E7sus4
- E5
- Eadd9
- E6
- Em6
- E9
- Em(add9)
- Em9
- E7M(9)
- Em(7M)
- E7M(#5)
- E7(b9)
- E6(9)
- Em6(9)
- E11
- Em11
- E13
- Em13
- E7(#9)
- E7(#11)
- E7(b13)
- E7(#5)
- E7M(#11)
- E9sus4
Sixth: other roots
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the E6 chord on piano?
E6 (E sixth) has the notes E, G♯, B, C♯. The formula is 1 · 3 · 5 · 6: root, major third, perfect fifth, major sixth.
How do you play E6 on piano?
Find the E key and add the other notes above it: E, G♯, B, C♯. Play them all together.
What are the inversions of E6?
1st inversion (E6/G#): G♯ B C♯ E; 2nd inversion (E6/B): B C♯ E G♯.
What does E6 mean?
E6 is the chord symbol for E sixth. A major chord with a sixth: cheerful, "round" and a little retro, without the tension of a seventh. Typical of swing, choro and bossa, and of endings in old-school jazz; in rock'n'roll, alternating the major chord with the 6 is the basis of many riffs.
Is the E6 chord the same on piano and keyboard?
Yes. The notes and inversions are the same on any keyboard instrument: acoustic piano, digital piano, keyboard, organ or synthesizer.