E6 chord on ukulele

E6 is E, G♯, B and C♯. The easiest shape is 1-1-0-2. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

1-1-0-2 · open · easy

Notes: E · G♯ · B · C♯
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 6
First shape: 1-1-0-2

How to play E6 on ukulele

Shape 1, 1-1-0-2, reading from the G string on the left:

G♯: index finger, 1st fret of the G string.
C♯: middle finger, 1st fret of the C string.
B: ring finger, 2nd fret of the A string.
Leave the E string open: E.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
Strum with the pad of your index finger or thumb, all four strings, across the spot where the neck meets the body.

Other ways to play E6

4-4-4-4: movable shape at the 4th fret, medium. Same notes, stacked differently, so it sounds a little different.
9-8-9-7: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Capo shortcuts for E6

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open D6 shape (2-2-2-2) or capo on the 4th fret and play the open C6 shape (0-0-0-0). The chord sounds as E6 because the capo raises every string by 2 half steps.

Changing from E6 to the chords around it

Songs rarely hold E6 for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

A (IV in E major): E6 (1-1-0-2) to A (2-1-0-0): the index finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret. Shared notes: E and C♯. A on ukulele
B (V in E major): E6 (1-1-0-2) to B (4-3-2-2): the index finger goes to the E string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the A string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the C string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the G string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Listen for B, which stays put while the rest moves. B on ukulele
C♯m (vi in E major): E6 (1-1-0-2) to C♯m (6-4-4-4): move the index finger to the C string, 4th fret, move the middle finger to the E string, 4th fret, your ring finger lands on the A string, 4th fret, the pinky finger comes down on the G string, 6th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. E, G♯ and C♯ carry over from one chord to the other. C♯m on ukulele

E6 is E major with a major sixth added. All 4 notes of E6 fit on the ukulele's four strings. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

A short E6 drill

Arpeggiate 1-1-0-2 from the lowest string: G♯, C♯, E, B. Then strum it and listen for the same 4 notes together. Finish by moving between 1-1-0-2 and 4-4-4-4 to learn two positions of the same chord.

Where E6 shows up

E6 on guitar and piano

The same notes on another instrument: E6 on guitar and E6 on piano. This page puts all three side by side.

Next to try on ukulele

Other major sixth chords

E6 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in E6 on ukulele?

E, G♯, B and C♯. In the 1-1-0-2 shape the strings play G♯ (G string), C♯ (C string), E (E string, open) and B (A string).

What's the easiest way to play E6 on ukulele?

1-1-0-2, the shape at the top of this page. Open strings do part of the work, so no barre.

Is E6 a barre chord on ukulele?

Not the usual shape: 1-1-0-2 needs no barre.

Which string does E6 start on?

In the 1-1-0-2 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 1st fret, which is G♯, the major third.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes E, G♯, B and C♯ and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.