CifraLab

Em6 Guitar Chord

Em6 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
Em6Guitar fingering diagram for Em61234123STRING6ªE5ªB4ªE3ªG2ªC#1ªE
View HD sheet

What sets Em6 apart

Play Em6 one string at a time and you hear E, G, B and C#. E is the root, G the minor third, B the fifth and C# the sixth. Said aloud, its notes are E, G, B and C sharp.

String by string, low to high, it plays E, B, E, G, C# and E. Of the six strings you play, three give E, the note that names the chord. The lowest and highest notes are both E, two octaves apart, on strings 6 and 1.

The open strings add notes to Em6 too. String 6 gives E, string 3 gives G and string 1 gives E. Every finger presses at fret 2. There is one more position, starting at fret 7.

Change only string 2 in Em6 and you have Em. Em6 and G have G and B in common. Moving to C, you keep one finger down.

Em6 shows up in two keys. In D major it is the ii6 and in B minor the iv6.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01Em Em - C - Am - B702G G - Em - Am - D703D D - Bm - Em - A704Bm Bm - G - Em - F#7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Em6)

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

E 1G ♭3B 5C# 6

Root Bass (Fundamental String)6th String (Low E) • Fret 0 (E)

String Control (Muted & Active)6 / 6 • Active and muted strings status indicator

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Em6:

01

Standard

Standard Position
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
○Open
EDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 2Finger 1
BDegree 5
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 2
EDegree 1
3rd String (G)
○Open
GDegree ♭3
2nd String (B)
Fret 2Finger 3
C#Degree 6
1st String (High E)
○Open
EDegree 1

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Middle finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 2 with your Ring finger. Play open: 6th String (Low E), 3rd String (G), 1st String (High E).

02

Barre 7

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 7Barre
EDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 9Finger 3
BDegree 5
3rd String (G)
Fret 9Finger 4
EDegree 1
2nd String (B)
Fret 8Finger 2
GDegree ♭3
1st String (High E)
Fret 9Finger 4
C#Degree 6

Placement tip: Barre fret 7. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 9 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 9 with your Pinky finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 8 with your Middle finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 9 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Em6)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Fretsfret 2
Fretting fingers3
Open6th, 3rd, and 1st
Mutednone

What to check

The open 6th, 3rd, and 1st strings sit next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Em6

Listen: Em6 → Em · C · G

  1. Em6
  2. Em
  3. Em6
  4. C
  5. Em6
  6. G
Em6 → Em01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 fingers stay
Stay in place
  • finger 1: string 5, fret 2
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Em6 → C02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Move
  • finger 3: string 5, fret 3
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1
Em6 → G03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 1: string 5, fret 2
Move
  • finger 2: string 6, fret 3
  • finger 3: string 1, fret 3

Em6 in every key

Em6 sits in the scale of 2 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
1/5
Highest fret
2
Frets the hand covers
1
Barre
No
Strings that ring
6/6
Fretting fingers
3

Major keys

Minor keys

Em6 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 (Em6)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Em6 chord?

To play the Em6 chord on guitar, all 6 strings are played from the 6th string (Low E) to the 1st string (High E). Arch your finger joints perpendicular to the fretboard so adjacent strings ring clearly.

What is the root bass note of the Em6 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Em6 chord is its root note: E. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 6 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Em6 chord and what is its formula?

The Em6 chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - 5 - 6 formula (Minor Sixth). Its constituent pitches are E, G, B, C#.

How do you prevent the Em6 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Em6 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 Em6 chord diagram

Em6 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the E family:

Chord E Chord Eb Chord Em Chord Ebm Chord E7 Chord Eb7 Chord Emaj7 Chord Ebmaj7