Em6 Guitar Chord
Em6 is a four-note minor sixth chord built from E, G, B, C#. Adding the major sixth to the minor triad creates a distinctive, bittersweet sound associated with jazz, Latin music, and the Dorian mode. It gives the minor chord additional brightness without losing its darker character.
4 ways to play Em6
Notes
Intervals
E (Root), G (Minor 3rd), B (Perfect 5th), C# (Major 6th)
Found in keys
Notes in the E Minor 6th Chord
The E Minor 6th chord is built from 4 notes: E, G, B, C#. It is a minor 6th chord — built from a root, minor third, perfect fifth, and major sixth. On guitar, these notes are voiced across multiple strings simultaneously to create the full chord sound. Depending on the voicing, some notes may be doubled in different octaves to fill out the sound.
Keys That Contain E Minor 6th
Em6 is built on the Em minor chord, which appears diatonically in these keys:
Common Chord Progressions with Em6
E Minor 6th appears in many common progressions. Here are the most-used patterns when Em6 is the tonic minor chord:
Use our chords in a key tool to find all the chords that naturally pair with Em6 in any key.
Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the E Minor 6th chord?
The E Minor 6th chord is made up of E, G, B, C#. These 4 notes form a four-note chord structure.
What key is the E Minor 6th chord in?
E Minor 6th naturally appears in the keys of C Major, G Major, D Major. It can also appear in other contexts as a borrowed chord or secondary chord.
How do I play the Em6 chord on guitar?
Place your fingers on the guitar fretboard according to the diagram above. The numbered dots show finger placement (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky), "O" means play the string open, and "X" means mute that string.
Other E Chords
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