CifraLab

D6 Guitar Chord

D6 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
D6Guitar fingering diagram for D61234××12STRING6ª×5ª×4ªD3ªA2ªB1ªF#
View HD sheet

What sets D6 apart

D6 is built from D, F#, A and B. D is the root, F# the major third, A the fifth and B the sixth. Said aloud, its notes are D, F sharp, A and B.

String by string, low to high, it plays D, A, B and F#. It runs from D on string 4 up to F# on string 1.

The open strings add notes to D6 too. String 4 gives D and string 2 gives B. Strings 6 and 5 stay silent. Every finger presses at fret 2. There is one more position, starting at fret 7.

Change only string 2 in D6 and you have D. Inside D6 sits a complete Bm chord, made of D, F# and B. Bm shares one position with this shape.

D6 belongs to six keys. In D major it is the I6, in G major the V6 and in A major the IV6. The rest appear in the key list.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01D D - Bm - Em - A702F#m F#m - D - Bm - C#7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (D6)

Formula: Major Sixth (1 - 3 - 5 - 6)
Constituent chord intervals:

D 1F# 3A 5B 6

Root Bass (Fundamental String)4th String (D) • Fret 0 (D)

String Control (Muted & Active)4 / 6 • 2 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for D6:

01

Standard

Standard Position
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 4th String (D)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
5th String (A)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
4th String (D)
○Open
DDegree 1
3rd String (G)
Fret 2Finger 1
ADegree 5
2nd String (B)
○Open
BDegree 6
1st String (High E)
Fret 2Finger 2
F#Degree 3

Placement tip: Press: 3rd String (G) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 2 with your Middle finger. Play open: 4th String (D), 2nd String (B). Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 5th String (A).

02

Barre 5

Barre fret 7
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 5Finger 1
DDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 7Barre
ADegree 5
3rd String (G)
Fret 7Barre
DDegree 1
2nd String (B)
Fret 7Barre
F#Degree 3
1st String (High E)
Fret 7Barre
BDegree 6

Placement tip: Barre fret 7. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 5 with your Index finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (D6)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Fretsfret 2
Fretting fingers2
Open4th and 2nd
Muted6th and 5th

What to check

The open 4th and 2nd strings sit next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from D6

Listen: D6 → D · Bm · Em

  1. D6
  2. D
  3. D6
  4. Bm
  5. D6
  6. Em
D6 → D01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 fingers stay
Stay in place
  • finger 1: string 3, fret 2
  • finger 2: string 1, fret 2
Move
  • finger 3: string 2, fret 3
D6 → Bm02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position
Stay in place
  • string 1, fret 2
Move
  • string 5, fret 2
  • string 4, fret 4
  • string 3, fret 4
  • string 2, fret 3
D6 → Em03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 1: string 5, fret 2
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2

D6 in every key

D6 sits in the scale of 6 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
2/5
Highest fret
2
Frets the hand covers
1
Barre
No
Strings that ring
4/6
Fretting fingers
2

D6 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (D6)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the D6 chord?

To play the D6 chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 4 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the D6 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the D6 chord is its root note: D. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 4 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the D6 chord and what is its formula?

The D6 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - 6 formula (Major Sixth). Its constituent pitches are D, F#, A, B.

How do you prevent the D6 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the D6 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official D6 chord diagram

D6 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the D family:

Chord D Chord Db Chord Dm Chord D7 Chord Db7 Chord Dmaj7 Chord Dbmaj7 Chord Dm7