G 6th
G6
Notes
G · B · D · E
Intervals
- RootG (1P)
- Major 3rdB (3M)
- Perfect 5thD (5P)
- Major 6thE (6M)
Fretboard
Adjust labels, frets, and palette in the interactive view.
About
The G6 chord (G–B–D–E) adds the major sixth to a major triad. The sixth is a stable, consonant addition — it does not introduce dissonance the way a 7th does — which gives 6 chords a warm, slightly vintage sound common in jazz, swing, and older pop. They can substitute for G or GMaj7 as tonic harmony when a less tense color is wanted. The E is the defining extension; the 5th can be omitted. On guitar, 6-chord voicings tend to be compact and practical for comping. Compared to GMaj7, the 6 feels more grounded and less harmonically ambiguous — the 6th sits further from the root than the 7th does, so it creates no half-step tension.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- G Major (I)
- G Major Pentatonic (deg 1)
- A Natural Minor (VII)
- B Diminished (deg 6)
- B Harmonic Minor (VI)
- B Natural Minor (VI)
- C Major (V)
- D Diminished (deg 4)
- D Major (IV)
- D Melodic Minor (IV)
- E Blues (deg 2)
- E Minor Pentatonic (deg 2)
- E Natural Minor (III)
- F Diminished (deg 2)
- G Lydian (I)
- G Mixolydian (I)
- A Dorian (VII)
- A Mixolydian (VII)
- B Locrian (VI)
- B Phrygian (VI)
- C Lydian (V)
- D Dorian (IV)
- D Mixolydian (IV)
- E Dorian (III)
- E Phrygian (III)
- F Lydian (II)
- F♯ Locrian (II)
- F♯ Phrygian (II)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. Roman numeral marks the chord root’s position in the scale; dashed badges aren’t linked yet.