E Minor 6th Chord (Em6) on Piano
The Em6 chord (E minor 6th) is built from 4 notes: E – G – B – C#.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from E | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | 1 | root | 0 |
| G | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| B | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| C# | 6 | major 6th | 9 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 4 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | E – G – B – C# | E in the bass |
| 1st inversion | G – B – C# – E | G in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | B – C# – E – G | B in the bass |
| 3rd inversion | C# – E – G – B | C# in the bass |
How the minor 6th chord is built
Every minor 6th chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), b3 (3 semitones), 5 (7 semitones), 6 (9 semitones). Starting on E and applying that formula produces E, G, B, C#. Learn the formula once and you can build a minor 6th chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Em6
Every note of Em6 belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on E
Minor 6th chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Em6 chord?
A Em6 chord contains the notes E, G, B, C#. Those are the 1, b3, 5, 6 degrees measured from the root note E.
How do you play Em6 on piano?
Place your thumb on E, then add G and B and C# above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–2–3–5.