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E6 Piano Chord

    Piano Diagram of E6 in Root Position

    E6 Chord - Root Position

    E6 is a four-note chord consisting of the notes E, G#, B, and C#. It is a major chord with an added sixth. It belongs to the chord family of “added tone chords” (aka “add chord”). Keep reading to gain a deeper understanding of the music theory behind this chord.

     


    Structure of E6

    Notes

    E, G#, B, C#

    Intervals

    R, 3, 5, 6

     

    Finger Position

    Left Hand

    5, 3, 2, 1

    5, 4, 2, 1

    Right Hand

    1, 2, 4, 5

    1, 2, 3, 4

     

    E6 Chord Inversions

     

    The E6 chord has a total of 3 inversions:

    Root Position: E G# B C#
    1st Inversion: G# B C# E
    2nd Inversion: B C# E G#
    3rd Inversion: C# E G# B

     Piano Keyboard Diagrams


    Music Theory and Harmony of E6

    Building the E6 Chord: Different Approaches

    Starting from the E Major Scale

    To create a 6th chord, you can use the Major scale as a reference by combining a Root, a 3rd, a 5th, and a 6th.

     

    E Major Diatonic Scale

    E Major Scale

     

    E Major Diatonic Scale up to 13th - Keyless Notation

    Keyless Notation of the E Major scale.

     

    Apply the formula R, 3, 5, 6 to build a 6th chord:

    1. Select the Root note, which is E.
    2. Pick the 3rd note, which is G#, and add it to the chord.
    3. Add the 5th note, which is B, and include it as well.
    4. Finally, add the 6th which is C#

     


    by Combining Intervals

    To build a 6th chord, one approach is to combine specific intervals, namely a major 3rd, a minor 3rd, and a major 2nd (a whole-tone).

    3 + m3 + 2 = 6th chords

    For instance, when building an E6 chord, you can observe that

    • E-G# forms a major 3rd interval,
    • G#-B creates a minor 3rd interval, and
    • B-C# makes up a whole-tone interval.

    By stacking these intervals together, you can form an E6 chord.

     


    6th Chords Equivalencies

    If we take the third inversion of a 6th chord (which means we move the notes around so that the 6th note becomes the Root note), we end up with a new chord that is equivalent to a min7 chord.

    So, if we take the E6 chord (which has the notes E, G#, B, and C#) and move the notes around so that C# becomes the Root note, we end up with a new chord that is equivalent to a C# min7 chord (which has the notes C#, E, G#, and B).

    3rd inversion of E6 = C# min7

     


    How to Use E6 in a Chord Progression

     

    Since 6th are based on major triads with an extra sixth, they can substitute the major chords built on the scale of the root. This means that we can use the E6 chord in those positions on the scale where the harmonization results in a major chord.

    This table showcases the harmonized major and natural minor scales where an E Major chord can be found. In all positions where an E Maj7 chord is present, the E6 chord can be used as a variation.

    on Major Scales

    Major Scales I ii iii IV V vi vii
    E E Maj7 ⇒ E6 F# min7 G# min7 A Maj7 B7 C# min7 D#m7b5
    B B Maj7 C# min7 D# min7 E Maj7 ⇒ E6 F#7 G# min7 A#m7b5
    • Tonic chord in E Major
    • Subdominant chord in B Major

    on Natural minor Scales

    Minor Scales i ii III iv v VI VII
    C# C# min7 D#m7b5 E Maj7 ⇒ E6 F# min7 G# min7 A Maj7 B7
    G# G# min7 A#m7b5 B Maj7 C# min7 D# min7 E Maj7 ⇒ E6 F#7
    • Mediant chord in C# minor
    • Submediant chord in G# minor

     


    E6 in E Major

    The 6th interval is a consonant interval, which means it doesn’t create any tension that needs to be resolved. It’s stable and often used as a substitute for the tonic chord, which is usually the main chord in a musical piece.

    The A6th chord can be used instead of an E major (or E major 7th chord), which is the first chord in the harmonized E major scale.

    In a major key, the I chord (built on the first degree of the major scale) serves as the tonic chord, providing the harmonic center of the chord progression.

    I ii iii IV V vi vii
    E Maj7 ⇒ E6 F# min7 G# min7 A Maj7 B7 C# min7 D#m7b5

     

    E6 Chord Progressions as I degree

    Replacing a standard major chord with a 6th chord can enhance the richness and complexity of your music. Here’s a chord progression that demonstrates how the E6 chord can function as a substitute for the tonic (I degree) in a chord progression:

     

    II V I
    ii V I
    F# min7 B7 E6

     

    I IV V
    I IV V
    E6 A Maj7 B7

     

    I V vi IV
    I V vi IV
    E6 B7 C# min7 A Maj7

     

    I IV vi V
    I IV vi V
    E6 A Maj7 C# min7 B7

     


    E6 in B Major

    The E6 chord can also be used as the fourth degree of the B major scale as a substitute for the E Maj7. When applied to the I-IV-V progression, this chord on the fourth degree acts as a transitional chord between the first and fifth degrees.

    I ii iii IV V vi vii
    B Maj7 C# min7 D# min7 E Maj7 ⇒ E6 F#7 G# min7 A#m7b5

     

    E6 as IV degree – Chord Progressions

    Try playing these chord progressions to get an idea of how E6 functions as a substitute for the subdominant (IV degree) in a chord progression.

     

    I IV V
    I IV V
    B Maj7 E6 F#7

     

    I V vi IV
    I V vi IV
    B Maj7 F#7 G# min7 E6

     

    I IV vi V
    I IV vi V
    B Maj7 E6 G# min7 F#7

     


    E6 in C# minor

    Similarly, in C# minor, the E6 chord can be used as a substitute for the E Maj7 chord on the third degree.

    i ii III iv v VI VII
    C# min7 D#m7b5 E Maj7 ⇒ E6 F# min7 G# min7 A Maj7 B7

     

    E6 as III degree – Chord Progressions

    These chord progressions show the E6 chord as a substitute for the mediant (III degree) chord.

     

    i III
    i III
    C# min7 E6

     

    i III VII VI
    i III VII VI
    C# min7 E6 B7 A Maj7

     

    Circle Progression
    i vi VII III VI ii V i
    C# min7 F# min7 B7 E6 A Maj7 D# dim7 G#7 C# min7

     


    E6 in G# minor

    In the key of G#, you can also substitute an E6 chord for an E Maj7 chord when the E Maj7 chord appears on the sixth degree of the G# minor scale. This is another situation where the E6 chord can be used as a replacement.

    i ii III iv v VI VII
    G# min7 A#m7b5 B Maj7 C# min7 D# min7 E Maj7 ⇒ E6 F#7

     

    E6 as VI degree – Chord Progressions

    You may want to experiment with these chord progressions to understand how the E6 chord can be used instead of the E Maj7 chord when it acts as the submediant (VI degree) in a G# minor scale.

     

    i VI VII
    i VI VII
    G# min7 E6 F#7

     

    i v VI VII
    i v VI VII
    G# min7 D# min7 E6 F#7

     

    i III VII VI
    i III VII VI
    G# min7 B Maj7 F#7 E6

     

    Circle Progression
    i vi VII III VI ii V i
    G# min7 C# min7 F#7 B Maj7 E6 A#m7b5 D#7 G# min7

     


    Alternative Names for E6 Chord

    • Mi6
    • E 6th
    • E M6
    • E sixth
    • E add6
    • E Maj6
    • E major6
    • E major 6th
    • E major sixth
    • E major add 6th

     


     

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