Em6 guitar chord
How to play Em6 on guitar — the notes E, G, B, C♯, a shape you can tap to hear, the keys it lives in, and a progression to hear it in context. Free.
The shape
Tap the diagram to hear Em6 strummed. Em6 is played as a barre chord around fret 7: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
The notes in Em6
A minor sixth chord is spelled from its root up: E (R), G (♭3), B (5), C♯ (6). Those are the only notes in Em6 — play them in any order, in any octave, and it's still Em6.
What a minor sixth chord is
In plain terms, a minor 6th adds a major sixth to a minor chord (root, ♭3, 5th, 6th) — a bittersweet minor with a lift in the top.
How it's used: A sophisticated minor tonic and a common iv chord; that raised sixth over the minor third is the whole flavour.
The sound: Bittersweet, cool, filmic — minor with a knowing smile. Where you'll hear it: Jazz, bossa nova, film themes, moody minor-key soul.
Hear Em6 in a progression
A moody i m6–iv move. Press play, and drag the Key control to move it anywhere.
Other E chords
minor sixth chords on other roots
Chords and their spellings are shared facts of music theory. Every diagram and sound here is generated by ThunderFret's own engine — no tabs, lyrics or recordings are reproduced.
Open Em6 in the interactive tool to see every place it sits on the neck, hear it, and find the shape that fits your hand — free.
See Em6 on the fretboardFrequently asked
What notes are in Em6?
Em6 is made of 4 notes: E (the R), G (the ♭3), B (the 5), C♯ (the 6).
How do you play Em6 on guitar?
Em6 is played as a barre chord around fret 7: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
When would I use Em6?
Jazz, bossa nova, film themes, moody minor-key soul.