B6 chord on ukulele

B6 is B, D♯, F♯ and G♯. The usual shape is 1-3-2-2. Tap Play, then slow it down.

1-3-2-2 · movable · medium

Notes: B · D♯ · F♯ · G♯
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 6
First shape: 1-3-2-2

How to play B6 on ukulele

Shape 1, 1-3-2-2, reading from the G string on the left:

Index finger: G string, 1st fret (G♯).
Middle finger: E string, 2nd fret (F♯).
Ring finger: A string, 2nd fret (B).
Pinky: C string, 3rd fret (D♯).

Your little finger has a job in this shape; it gets stronger in a week or two of short daily practice.
On ukulele you strum all four strings. The top G string is tuned higher than the C, which is why ukulele chords sound bright and close.

Other ways to play B6

4-6-4-6: movable shape at the 4th fret, medium. Same notes, stacked differently, so it sounds a little different.
8-8-7-9: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. Higher up the neck it sounds brighter; handy when another guitar is already playing a lower shape.
11-11-11-11: movable shape at the 11th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.

B6 the capo way

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 4th fret and play the open G6 shape (0-2-0-2). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

Moving between B6 and its neighbours

The chords B6 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

E (IV in B major): B6 (1-3-2-2) to E (1-4-0-2): your index finger stays put, the middle finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, the ring finger goes to the C string, 4th fret. B and G♯ carry over from one chord to the other. E on ukulele
F♯ (V in B major): B6 (1-3-2-2) to F♯ (3-1-2-1): the index finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, the middle finger goes to the A string, 1st fret, the ring finger slides across to the E string at the same fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. F♯ carries over from one chord to the other. F♯ on ukulele
G♯m (vi in B major): B6 (1-3-2-2) to G♯m (4-3-4-2): your index finger lands on the A string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the C string, 3rd fret, move the ring finger to the G string, 4th fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Shared notes: B, D♯ and G♯. G♯m on ukulele

B6 is B major with a major sixth added. All 4 notes of B6 fit on the ukulele's four strings. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

Practice B6 in two minutes

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: G♯, D♯, F♯, B. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Next, alternate 1-3-2-2 and 4-6-4-6, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Where B6 shows up

B6 on guitar and piano

The same notes on another instrument: B6 on guitar and B6 on piano. This page puts all three side by side.

Next to try on ukulele

Other major sixth chords

B6 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in B6 on ukulele?

B, D♯, F♯ and G♯. In the 1-3-2-2 shape the strings play G♯ (G string), D♯ (C string), F♯ (E string) and B (A string).

What's the easiest way to play B6 on ukulele?

In standard tuning B6 can't use open strings. Begin with 1-3-2-2. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and in many songs a capo can take over part of the work.

Is B6 a barre chord on ukulele?

Not the usual shape: 1-3-2-2 needs no barre.

Which string does B6 start on?

In the 1-3-2-2 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 1st fret, which is G♯, the major sixth.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside B6. Updated September 2026.