How to Play E6 on Piano

The E Major 6th chord sounds warm and nostalgic. It stacks 4 notes: E – G# – B – C#.

A major triad with a sixth added. It resolves as comfortably as a plain triad but sounds fuller, which is why it ends so many jazz standards.

Notes in E6

NoteIntervalFinger
EE4Root1
G#G#4Major 3rd2
BB4Perfect 5th3
C#C#5Major 6th5

How to Play

Right Hand

Place your thumb (finger 1) on E. Use finger 2 on G#, finger 3 on B, and finger 5 on C#.

Where it sits

2 notes of this chord (G#, C#) are on black keys, so play it a little further back on the keys than an all-white shape.

Press all 4 keys at the same time. Keep your wrist relaxed and your fingers curved. The blue dots on the piano below show exactly which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.

Other Major 6th Chords

C6
C – E – G – A
Db6
Db – F – Ab – Bb
D6
D – F# – A – B
Eb6
Eb – G – Bb – C
F6
F – A – C – D
F#6
F# – A# – C# – D#
G6
G – B – D – E
Ab6
Ab – C – Eb – F
A6
A – C# – E – F#
Bb6
Bb – D – F – G
B6
B – D# – F# – G#

Other E Chords

E7
E – G# – B – D
E9
E – G# – B – D – F#
E
E – G# – B
Em
E – G – B
Emaj7
E – G# – B – D#
Em7
E – G – B – D
Edim
E – G – Bb
Eaug
E – G# – B#
Esus2
E – F# – B
Esus4
E – A – B
Edim7
E – G – Bb – Db
Em6
E – G – B – C#
Eadd9
E – G# – B – F#