Em6 chord on ukulele

Em6 is E, G, B and C♯. The easiest shape is 0-1-0-2. Hit Play and watch each string light as it sounds.

0-1-0-2 · open · easy

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

How to play Em6 on ukulele

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

C♯: index finger, 1st fret of the C string.
B: middle finger, 2nd fret of the A string.
Leave the G and E strings open: G and 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 Em6

6-7-7-7: movable shape at the 6th fret, medium. A different set of strings gives a different color of the same chord.
9-11-9-10: movable shape at the 9th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Em6 the capo way

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open Dm6 shape (2-2-1-2) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open Am6 shape (2-0-2-0). The chord sounds as Em6 because the capo raises every string by 2 half steps.

Em6 chord changes

These are the changes you'll meet most often with Em6, using the first shape of each chord.

A (V in D major): Em6 (0-1-0-2) to A (2-1-0-0): your index finger stays put, move the middle finger to the G string, 2nd fret. An easy one to get up to speed. Listen for E and C♯, which stay put while the rest moves. A on ukulele
G (IV in D major): Em6 (0-1-0-2) to G (0-2-3-2): your middle finger stays put, move the index finger to the C string, 2nd fret, the ring finger comes down on the E string, 3rd fret. G and B carry over from one chord to the other. G on ukulele
D (I in D major): Em6 (0-1-0-2) to D (2-2-2-0): move the index finger to the G string, 2nd fret, the middle finger goes to the C string, 2nd fret, the ring finger comes down on the E string, 2nd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. D on ukulele

Em6 is E minor with a major sixth added. All 4 notes of Em6 fit on the ukulele's four strings. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

Practice Em6 in two minutes

Arpeggiate 0-1-0-2 from the lowest string: G, C♯, E, B. Then strum it and listen for the same 4 notes together. Finish by moving between 0-1-0-2 and 6-7-7-7 to learn two positions of the same chord.

Keys and progressions with Em6

Em6 on guitar and piano

Switching instruments? Try Em6 on piano or Em6 on guitar, or compare them on the Em6 chord page.

Next to try on ukulele

Other minor sixth chords

Em6 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in Em6 on ukulele?

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

What's the easiest way to play Em6 on ukulele?

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

Is Em6 a barre chord on ukulele?

Not in its common form: 0-1-0-2 needs no barre.

Which string does Em6 start on?

In the 0-1-0-2 shape the lowest string you play is the G string, open, which is G, the minor third.

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