E6 Piano Chord

E6 is the E sixth chord. It has four notes: E, G sharp, B and C sharp. The G sharp and C sharp are black keys, under the index and little fingers, and the E and B between them are white.

1E2G♯3B5C♯C4C5

E at the bottom, then G sharp, B and C sharp. Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1, white and black keys alternating.

How to play E6 on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the E above middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): E
  3. Index finger (2): G♯
  4. Middle finger (3): B
  5. Little finger (5): C♯
  6. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 2, 1 an octave lower, or just E on its own as a bass note.

The hand alternates white, black, white, black: E, G sharp, B, C sharp. Start from a plain E major chord and add the little finger on C sharp, the black key one whole step above the B.

Inversions of E6

The same 4 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are E6; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionG♯ B C♯ E
E6 piano chord diagram, first inversion, G♯ B C♯ E
Lighter, with the third in the bass tipping the chord toward A or C sharp minor. A passing voicing more than a resting one.
Second inversionB C♯ E G♯
E6 piano chord diagram, second inversion, B C♯ E G♯
Open with a soft blur at the base where B and C sharp meet. The chord sounds airborne rather than planted, which suits the middle of a line.
Third inversionC♯ E G♯ B
E6 piano chord diagram, third inversion, C♯ E G♯ B
The double-natured voicing: with C sharp underneath, the relative minor and E6 are one sound. Use it to drift between E and C sharp minor without a leap.

If it sounds wrong

The top note slid onto D
Falling off the C sharp onto the white D gives an E7 sound, which pulls toward A. The sixth is the black key C sharp, and the little finger needs to land on it squarely.
It sounds like C sharp minor
E6 shares its notes with C#m7. When C sharp sits lowest, the ear hears the minor chord. Keep E at the bottom, or anchor it with a low E in the left hand.
The two black keys tip the hand
G sharp and C sharp sit higher than the white keys. Keep the wrist level and the fingers slightly curved so all four notes arrive together instead of black first.

What makes it an E6

E · G♯ · B · C♯ 1 3 5 6

E6 is an E major triad, E, G sharp and B, with a C sharp added: the sixth, a whole step above the fifth. The triad stays whole, so the chord keeps E major's shine and gains an older, rounder top.

Counted from C sharp, the same four notes spell C#m7, the relative minor seventh. The bass note decides which chord it is, which makes E6 a natural bridge in songs that move between E and C sharp minor.

E6 vs Emaj7

One note apart at the top. E6 adds C sharp, a whole step above the B; Emaj7 adds D sharp, a half step below the E above. Both are black keys; only one of them lets the chord rest.

Hold E, G sharp and B and swap the little finger between C sharp and D sharp. C sharp finishes the sentence; D sharp leaves it trailing. Old records end on the first, film scores linger on the second.

Questions about E6

Is E6 the same as C#m7?

Same four notes: E, G sharp, B and C sharp. E in the bass makes it E6; C sharp in the bass makes it C#m7.

What fingers do you use for E6?

Right hand: thumb on E, index on G sharp, middle on B, little finger on C sharp, which is 1, 2, 3, 5. Left hand: 5, 3, 2, 1.

What is the difference between E6 and E7?

E6 adds C sharp, a still colour note. E7 adds D, a flat seventh that pushes toward A. One is an ending, the other a departure.

When would I use E6?

As a warm final chord in E, in swing and rockabilly endings, and under melodies that rest on C sharp.

How many black keys are in E6?

Two: G sharp and C sharp, under the index and little fingers. The hand alternates white and black from bottom to top.

Chords to learn next

Other E chords