# G Major 6th piano chord (G6) G6 contains G, B, D and E. A major triad with the sixth added on top. Every note is a white key. - Canonical page: https://piano.org/chords/major-6th/g/ - Entity: chord:major-6th:g - Notes: G B D E - Formula: 1 3 5 6 - Intervals from root: P1, M3, P5, M6 - Interval stack (semitones): 4 3 2 - Also written: G6, G6, G major 6th - Parameters: A440, 12-TET, 165 mm octave, spans centre to centre ## Construction | Degree | Note | Interval from root | Semitones | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | G | Perfect unison | 0 | | 3 | B | Major third | 4 | | 5 | D | Perfect fifth | 7 | | 6 | E | Major sixth | 9 | ## Fingering Rest your right hand over the notes with finger 1 on G, finger 2 on B, finger 3 on D, finger 5 on E. The left hand mirrors it. Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1. Source: piano.org fingering method v1. ## Inversions | Position | Bass | Notes in order | Figured bass | Span | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Root position | G | G3 B3 D4 E4 | 7 | 9 st, 124 mm | | First inversion (G6/B) | B | B3 D4 E4 G4 | 6/5 | 8 st, 110 mm | | Second inversion (G6/D) | D | D4 E4 G4 B4 | 4/3 | 9 st, 124 mm | | Third inversion (G6/E) | E | E4 G4 B4 D5 | 4/2 | 10 st, 138 mm | ## Voicings (10) | Voicing | Notes | Span | Relation | Omits or adds | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Close, root position | G3 B3 D4 E4 | 9 st, 124 mm | identical | none | | Close, first inversion | B3 D4 E4 G4 | 8 st, 110 mm | identical | none | | Close, second inversion | D4 E4 G4 B4 | 9 st, 124 mm | identical | none | | Close, third inversion | E4 G4 B4 D5 | 10 st, 138 mm | identical | none | | Drop 2 | D3 G3 B3 E4 | 14 st, 193 mm | identical | none | | Drop 3 | B2 G3 D4 E4 | 17 st, 234 mm | identical | none | | Drop 2 and 4 | G2 D3 B3 E4 | 21 st, 289 mm | identical | none | | Shell, root 6 3 | G2 E3 B3 | 16 st, 220 mm | subset | omits D | | Guide tones, 3 and 6 | B3 E4 | 5 st, 69 mm | subset | omits G and D | | Rootless close | B3 D4 E4 | 5 st, 69 mm | subset | omits G | ## One-edit neighbors | Becomes | Edit | Changes | Common tones | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | G | 1 3 5 | drops E | 3 | | Gmaj7 | 1 3 5 7 | E becomes F♯ | 3 | | G7 | 1 3 5 ♭7 | E becomes F | 3 | | Gm6 | 1 ♭3 5 6 | B becomes B♭ | 3 | | Gadd9 | 1 3 5 9 | E becomes A | 3 | | Gmaj9 | 1 3 5 7 9 | E becomes F♯, A | 3 | | G9 | 1 3 5 ♭7 9 | E becomes F, A | 3 | | Gm | 1 ♭3 5 | B, E becomes B♭ | 2 | | Gaug | 1 3 ♯5 | D, E becomes D♯ | 2 | | Gsus2 | 1 2 5 | B, E becomes A | 2 | | Gsus4 | 1 4 5 | B, E becomes C | 2 | | Gm7 | 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 | B, E becomes B♭, F | 2 | ## Set theory - Absolute pitch classes: {7, 11, 2, 4} - Relative pitch classes: [0, 4, 7, 9] - Normal order: [11, 2, 4, 7] - Prime form: (0358) - Forte number: 4-26 - Interval vector: <012120> ## Frequencies (close root position) | Note | MIDI | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | G3 | 55 | 196.00 Hz | | B3 | 59 | 246.94 Hz | | D4 | 62 | 293.66 Hz | | E4 | 64 | 329.63 Hz | ## Questions and answers ### What notes are in G6? G6 contains G, B, D and E. The formula is 1, 3, 5, 6. ### How do you play G6 on piano? Play G, B, D and E together. Right hand fingers 1, 2, 3, 5; left hand 5, 3, 2, 1. Every note is a white key. ### What are the inversions of G6? 4 positions: root position G B D E, G6/B, G6/D, G6/E. ### What is the difference between G6 and G? Drops E. 3 of the notes are shared. ### What is an easy G6 for small hands? The guide tones, 3 and 6 voicing, B3 E4, spans 5 semitones or about 69 mm. ### What are the frequencies of G6? From G3 at A440 in 12-TET: 196.00, 246.94, 293.66, 329.63 Hz. ### What is the set class of G6? Prime form (0358), Forte 4-26, interval vector <012120>. ### How do I transpose G6 to another key? Keep the 1, 3, 5, 6 formula on the new root. C6 is C, E, G, A; C♯6 is C♯, E♯, G♯, A♯. ## Provenance Every derived value above is computed by the piano.org theory kernel from the root, the quality and the stated parameters. Nothing is hand-entered per chord. Machine record: https://piano.org/api/knowledge/v1/entities/chord:major-6th:g Last reviewed: 2026-08-12