G6: G Major 6th Piano Chord

Second inversion: either hand, fingers low note to high
Hand	Notes	Fingers
Right	D, E, G, B	1-2-3-5
Left	D, E, G, B	5-4-2-1

Scale degree, note, and interval measured from the root.
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

Construction

G Major 6 = Root + Major 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 6th = G, B, D, E

Note	Interval	Degree
G	Root	1
B	Major 3rd	3
D	Perfect 5th	5
E	Major 6th	6

Fingering

Note	Key color	Right hand	Left hand
G	white	thumb (1)	little finger (5)
B	white	index finger (2)	middle finger (3)
D	white	middle finger (3)	index finger (2)
E	white	little finger (5)	thumb (1)

Right hand: thumb (1) on G, index finger (2) on B, middle finger (3) on D, little finger (5) on E.

Left hand: little finger (5) on G, middle finger (3) on B, index finger (2) on D, thumb (1) on E.

G Major 6 Inversions

Root position
G – B – D – E
1st inversion (G6/B)
B – D – E – G
2nd inversion (G6/D)
D – E – G – B
3rd inversion (G6/E)
E – G – B – D

Key Signature

A chord has no key signature of its own, but the G Major 6 is the tonic (I) chord of G Major, whose key signature has 1 sharp (F♯).

F♯

Order of sharps

Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.

F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯

Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Chords in the Key of G Major

These are the triads built on each degree of G Major:

I — G Major (major)

Degree	Numeral	Chord	Quality
1	I	G Major	Major
2	ii	A Minor	Minor
3	iii	B Minor	Minor
4	IV	C Major	Major
5	V	D Major	Major
6	vi	E Minor	Minor
7	vii°	F♯ Diminished	Diminished

Same Notes, Other Names

The notes G – B – D – E aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:

E Minor 7th→

G Major 6 : Frequently Asked Questions

What is the G Major 6 chord on piano?

The G Major 6 chord contains the notes G – B – D – E. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.

What notes are in the G Major 6 chord?

G6 contains: G, B, D, E. Major triad with major sixth.

How does G6 differ from Gmaj7?

G6 has E (sixth). Gmaj7 has F# (seventh).

How does G6 differ from Em7?

Same four notes, different root.

How is G6 used?

Vintage jazz, swing, country, folk. G is one of the most common keys.

What songs use Major 6th?

Swing era, country, folk.

Can I substitute G6 for G Major?

Yes: warmer tonic.

G Major 6th in detail

Exact

Every pitch class is present and nothing outside the chord is added.

Type	Notes	Semitones	Span	Omissions and additions	Set relation
Close, root position	G3 B3 D4 E4	9	124 mm	none	identical
Close, first inversion	B3 D4 E4 G4	8	110 mm	none	identical
Close, second inversion	D4 E4 G4 B4	9	124 mm	none	identical
Close, third inversion	E4 G4 B4 D5	10	138 mm	none	identical
Drop 2	D3 G3 B3 E4	14	193 mm	none	identical
Drop 3	B2 G3 D4 E4	17	234 mm	none	identical
Drop 2 and 4	G2 D3 B3 E4	21	289 mm	none	identical

Reduced

A subset of the pitch classes: the identity is incomplete rather than altered.

Type	Notes	Semitones	Span	Omissions and additions	Set relation
Shell, root 6 3	G2 E3 B3	16	220 mm	omits D	subset
Guide tones, 3 and 6	B3 E4	5	69 mm	omits G and D	subset
Rootless close	B3 D4 E4	5	69 mm	omits G	subset

Spans are measured centre to centre at a 165 mm octave (standard keyboard geometry).

Position	Bass note	Notes in order	Figured bass	Semitones	Span
Root position	G	G3, B3, D4, E4	7	9	124 mm
First inversion: G6/B	B	B3, D4, E4, G4	6/5	8	110 mm
Second inversion: G6/D	D	D4, E4, G4, B4	4/3	9	124 mm
Third inversion: G6/E	E	E4, G4, B4, D5	4/2	10	138 mm

One position per chord tone in the bass. Spans are for close position: voiced inversions appear under Voicings.

Change one note

Chords a single note away, and what moving that note does.

Chord	Change	Formula	Common tones
G	drops E	1 3 5	3
Gmaj7	E becomes F♯	1 3 5 7	3
G7	E becomes F	1 3 5 ♭7	3
Gm6	B becomes B♭	1 ♭3 5 6	3
Gadd9	E becomes A	1 3 5 9	3
Gmaj9	E becomes F♯, A	1 3 5 7 9	3
G9	E becomes F, A	1 3 5 ♭7 9	3
Gm	B, E becomes B♭	1 ♭3 5	2
Gaug	D, E becomes D♯	1 3 ♯5	2
Gsus2	B, E becomes A	1 2 5	2
Gsus4	B, E becomes C	1 4 5	2
Gm7	B, E becomes B♭, F	1 ♭3 5 ♭7	2

Frequencies

Note	MIDI	Frequency
G3	55	196.00 Hz
B3	59	246.94 Hz
D4	62	293.66 Hz
E4	64	329.63 Hz

Reference pitch A440, 12-TET, close root position.

Set theory: prime form, Forte number, interval vector

Absolute pitch class set: {7, 11, 2, 4}
Normal order: [11, 2, 4, 7]
Prime form: (0358)
Forte number: 4-26
Interval vector: <012120>

Pair	Interval	Semitones	Interval class
G to B	Major third	4	4
G to D	Perfect fifth	7	5
G to E	Major sixth	9	3
B to D	Minor third	3	3
B to E	Perfect fourth	5	5
D to E	Major second	2	2

Where these facts come from

Every value on this page is derived from the note formula for a major 6th applied to the root G, using standard music theory. Nothing here is hand-entered per chord, so the notes, intervals, inversions and frequencies cannot drift out of agreement with each other. Pitches assume 12-TET at A440.

G Major 6

Fingerings

G Major 6th: notes and degrees