Em6 — E, G, B, C♯ — is an E minor triad with an added major sixth. The chord is the i6 of E minor and is enharmonic to C♯ half-diminished. On guitar, the open Em6 voicing (022020) keeps the bass E open and adds the major 6th (C♯) on the 2nd fret of the 2nd string.
Intervals
The E minor 6 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:
- E→Gminor 3rd3 semitones
- G→Bmajor 3rd4 semitones
- B→C#major 2nd2 semitones
On the keyboard
Each note of the E minor 6 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.
On the guitar
One voicing of the E minor 6 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.
- 1E
- ♭3G
- 5B
- 6C#
Common mistakes
Em6 has C♯ as its sixth — borrowed from E Dorian (which has C♯ as the raised 6th of E natural minor). The C♯ distinguishes Em6 from Em or Em7. On guitar, the open Em6 voicing is one of the easiest m6 chords to finger.
In context
Em6 is the i6 of E minor (often used as a tonic in E-minor jazz tunes). The cadence F♯m7♭5 → B7 → Em6 closes many E-minor jazz tunes. "Autumn Leaves" (in E minor / G major) sometimes uses Em6 at final cadences.
Drill it
The E minor 6 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.
Open the Chord Trainer →Or try today's Etudle puzzleRelated
Frequently asked
- What notes are in an Em6 chord?
- Em6 contains four notes: E (root), G (minor third), B (perfect fifth), and C♯ (major sixth).
- How do you play Em6 on guitar?
- The open Em6 voicing is 022020: open low E, B (2nd fret 5th string), E (2nd fret 4th string), open G, C♯ (2nd fret 2nd string), and open high E.
- Is Em6 the same as C♯ half-diminished?
- Enharmonically yes — same four pitches. Em6 has E as root (minor tonic); C♯ø has C♯ as root (ii of B minor).
- What pieces use Em6?
- "Autumn Leaves" (in E minor) sometimes ends on Em6. Many E-minor jazz tunes use Em6 as a tonic; bossa-nova standards in E minor lean on Em6 for its mellow but bright colour.