E6 chord on piano
E6 is E, G♯, B and C♯. E is the white key just right of the pair of black keys. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.
root position · E–G♯–B–C♯ · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B · C♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 6
How to play E6 on piano
Count keys (black and white) from E: 4 half steps up to G♯, 3 half steps up to B then 2 half steps up to C♯. Those 4 keys are E6.
- Right hand: 1 on E, 2 on G♯, 3 on B and 5 on C♯.
- Left hand: 5 on E, 3 on G♯, 2 on B and 1 on C♯.
- On the keyboard it's white, black, white and black keys, the same pattern as A6, so your hand shape carries over.
E6 inversions
- root position: E–G♯–B–C♯. RH 1-2-3-5.
- 1st inversion: G♯–B–C♯–E, G♯ lowest. Fingers 1-2-3-5.
- 2nd inversion: B–C♯–E–G♯, with B at the bottom. Fingers 1-2-3-5.
- 3rd inversion: C♯–E–G♯–B (C♯ in the bass). Right hand 1-2-3-5.
Nobody plays every chord in root position. The inversions let E6 sit wherever the previous chord left your hand.
E6 chord changes
These are the changes you'll meet most often with E6, using the first shape of each chord.
- A (IV in E major): E6 to A: play A in 2nd inversion (E–A–C♯) and E and C♯ stay under the same fingers, while G♯ moves up to A. A on piano
- B (V in E major): E6 to B: play B in 1st inversion (D♯–F♯–B) and B stays under the same finger, while E moves down to D♯ and E up to F♯. B on piano
- C♯m (vi in E major): E6 to C♯m: play C♯m in 1st inversion (E–G♯–C♯) and E, G♯ and C♯ stay under the same fingers. C♯m on piano
E6 is E major with a major sixth added. E6 is a vintage ending chord; hold it at the end of a swing or ballad tune instead of plain E. On piano you hear it best with the keys pressed together, then rolled.
Practice E6 in two minutes
Play E6 broken, one key at a time: E, G♯, B, C♯, B, G♯, E. Then press the keys together and check that all 4 sound at the same volume. Finish with the inversions in order: E–G♯–B–C♯; G♯–B–C♯–E; B–C♯–E–G♯; C♯–E–G♯–B.
The keys of E6
E6 is a major sixth chord, 1–3–5–6 from E. Root position, from the bottom: how E6 is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | white key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| G♯ | black key | RH 2 · LH 3 | major third |
| B | white key | RH 3 · LH 2 | perfect fifth |
| C♯ | black key | RH 5 · LH 1 | major sixth |
Where E6 shows up
E6 on guitar and ukulele
The same notes on another instrument: E6 on guitar and E6 on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.
Related E chords on piano
Other major sixth chords
E6 on piano: questions
What notes are in E6 on piano?
E, G♯, B and C♯: E (white key), G♯ (black key), B (white key) and C♯ (black key). Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1.
How do you play E6 on piano?
Press E, G♯, B and C♯ together (2 black, 2 white). Right hand: 1 on E, 2 on G♯, 3 on B and 5 on C♯.
What are the inversions of E6?
1st inversion (G♯–B–C♯–E), 2nd inversion (B–C♯–E–G♯) and 3rd inversion (C♯–E–G♯–B), after root position (E–G♯–B–C♯). Only the lowest note changes.
What does E6 look like on the keyboard?
white, black, white and black keys, the same pattern as A6, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Shapes and sound are generated from the notes E, G♯, B and C♯ and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.