B6 chord
B6 is B, D♯, F♯ and G♯: 1–3–5–6 built on B. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele. Tap Play on any of them.
On guitar
x-2-1-1-0-2 · open · medium
- Notes
- B · D♯ · F♯ · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 6
- First shape
- x-2-1-1-0-2
B6 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · B–D♯–F♯–G♯ · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- B · D♯ · F♯ · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 6
B6 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
1-3-2-2 · movable · medium
- Notes
- B · D♯ · F♯ · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 6
- First shape
- 1-3-2-2
Where B6 usually goes next
Three changes cover most of what B6 does in songs.
- B6 → E (IV in B major)
Guitar: B6 (x-2-1-1-0-2) to E (0-2-2-1-0-0): the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 2nd fret, the ring finger slides across to the D string at the same fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. The two chords share B and G♯, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: B6 to E: play E in 2nd inversion (B–E–G♯) and B and G♯ stay under the same fingers, while D♯ moves up to E. E - B6 → F♯ (V in B major)
Guitar: B6 (x-2-1-1-0-2) to F♯ (2-4-4-3-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 3rd fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 4th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. The two chords share F♯, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: B6 to F♯: play F♯ in 1st inversion (A♯–C♯–F♯) and F♯ stays under the same finger, while B moves down to A♯ and B up to C♯. F♯ - B6 → G♯m (vi in B major)
Guitar: B6 (x-2-1-1-0-2) to G♯m (4-6-6-4-4-4): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 6th fret, move the ring finger to the D string, 6th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. B, D♯ and G♯ carry over from one chord to the other.
Piano: B6 to G♯m: play G♯m in 1st inversion (B–D♯–G♯) and B, D♯ and G♯ stay under the same fingers. G♯m
Guitar with a capo: capo 2, A6 shape; capo 4, G6 shape; capo 7, E6 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 4, G6 shape.
How B6 is built
B6 is B major with a major sixth added. It sounds sweet and a little vintage, the classic last chord of a swing tune, and it shares all its notes with G♯m7.
From B, go 4 half steps up to D♯, 3 half steps up to F♯ then 2 half steps up to G♯.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | root | 0 | |
| D♯ | major third | 4 | |
| F♯ | perfect fifth | 7 | |
| G♯ | major sixth | 9 |
Keys and progressions with B6
B6 isn't a chord of any major or natural minor key, so it usually appears as a passing or borrowed chord.
Chords close to B6
- B6 is B plus G♯. B
Chords that share most of their notes with B6: G♯m7, G♯m, B, Emaj7, Eadd9, Fm7♭5.
Every B chord
B6 chord: questions
What notes are in the B6 chord?
B, D♯, F♯ and G♯. B6 is built 1–3–5–6 from B: D♯ is the major third, F♯ is the perfect fifth and G♯ is the major sixth.
How do you play B6 on guitar?
The usual shape is x-2-1-1-0-2 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play B6 on piano?
Play B, D♯, F♯ and G♯ with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. B sits just right of the group of three black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play B6 on ukulele?
1-3-2-2 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is B6 in?
B6 isn't a chord of any major or natural minor key, so it usually appears as a passing or borrowed chord.
What's the difference between B6 and B?
B6 is B plus G♯.
Every diagram on this page is generated from the notes B, D♯, F♯ and G♯ and checked automatically so the sound matches the drawing. Updated September 2026.