Em6 Chord

The Em6 chord is a minor sixth chord built on the root note E. Its notes are E, G, B and C♯.

Minor sixth chords are darker than a plain minor triad but never sour. A major sixth sitting over a minor third gives them a wistful, cinematic quality that turns up in bossa nova, French chanson and film noir scores.

Root

Quality

Em6 on piano

Inversion:

Show:

To play Em6 on piano, place your right-hand thumb on E, then index, middle and little finger on G, B and C♯. Press all keys at the same time and listen for a clear, balanced sound. Practice switching to and from this chord slowly, then with a metronome at a comfortable tempo.

Em6 on guitar

Show:

Beginner

Open

On guitar, Em6 is commonly played with the voicing shown above. If the chord contains barred notes, keep your index finger flat across the fretboard and curve the other fingers so they don't mute the open strings. Strum only the strings marked as active in the diagram for the cleanest tone.

Play the chord

Em6

E · G · B · C♯

Em6 chord notes

Formula: 1 · ♭3 · 5 · 6Notes: E · G · B · C♯

Degree	Interval	Semitones	Note
1	Root	0	E
♭3	Minor third	3	G
5	Perfect fifth	7	B
6	Major sixth	9	C♯(C#)

How to use the Em6 chord

The Em6 chord is built from a root, a minor third, a perfect fifth and a major sixth. Starting from the root E, stack the intervals to get the complete chord: E, G, B and C♯. Learning the formula is the fastest way to transpose the chord to any other key.

Minor sixth chords act as the iv chord in a major key or as the tonic of a Dorian passage, and they are a staple of jazz turnarounds. They also make a striking substitute for a plain minor chord at a cadence.

Common progressions

The Em6 chord works beautifully in these progressions. Click a chord name to jump to its page.

Pop progression

I → V → vi → IV

E B C♯m A

Once you are comfortable with Em6, explore neighbouring chords to unlock new progressions. The chords below share notes, keys or functions with Em6 and are a natural next step in your practice.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Em6 chord?

The Em6 chord contains E, G, B and C♯ (E, G, B and C# in plain text).

Is the Em6 chord major or minor?

Em6 is a minor sixth chord. Minor sixth chords are darker than a plain minor triad but never sour. A major sixth sitting over a minor third gives them a wistful, cinematic quality that turns up in bossa nova, French chanson and film noir scores.

How do you play Em6 on piano?

Place your fingers on E, G, B and C♯ and play the notes together. On piano, the root is usually played with the little finger of the left hand and the upper notes with the right hand.

How do you play Em6 on guitar?

Em6 is typically played using the fingering shown in the interactive diagram above. You can also try an open position if one of the chord tones lines up with an open string.

What chords work well with Em6?

Em6 pairs naturally with the chords listed in the related chords section. Chords a perfect fifth up or down, relative major or minor chords, and chords sharing two notes are all strong choices.

Keep exploring

Deepen your understanding of the Em6 chord with our other music theory tools.

Browse all chords Explore scales Explore progressions Chord Transposer Chord Finder Try the Piano Open Circle of Fifths