E♭ sixth (E♭6) chord on banjo

Major sixth chord (a major triad plus a major sixth) on E♭: the notes of the E♭6 chord are E♭ – G – B♭ – C. The same chord with a different spelling: D♯ sixth (D♯6).

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 4medium

Position 8medium

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

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What the E♭6 chord sounds like

A sixth chord is a major triad with an added major sixth. It has a cheerful, vintage swing colour and often stands in for the tonic in jazz and swing. It has the same notes as the relative minor seventh (C6 = Am7).

Notes of the E♭6 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	E♭	root
3	G	major third (4 semitones)
5	B♭	perfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
6	C	major sixth (9 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (D): fret 1, ring finger (E♭4)
String 2 (B): fret 1, middle finger (C4)
String 3 (G): open (G3)
String 4 (D): fret 1, index finger (E♭3)

Position 4

String 1 (D): fret 5, little finger (G4)
String 2 (B): fret 4, index finger (E♭4)
String 3 (G): fret 5, ring finger (C4)
String 4 (D): fret 5, middle finger (G3)

Position 8

String 1 (D): fret 10, little finger (C5)
String 2 (B): fret 8, ring finger (G4)
String 3 (G): fret 8, middle finger (E♭4)
String 4 (D): fret 8, index finger (B♭3)

Five-string banjo in open G tuning (g D G B D). The diagram shows the four long strings; the short 5th string (g) rings open – avoid it when G is not in the chord. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The E♭6 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

E♭ major: I6 (tonic)
A♭ major: V6 (dominant)
B♭ major: IV6 (subdominant)
F minor: VII6
C minor: III6
G minor: VI6

Similar chords and substitutes

If E♭6 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

Cm – relative minor: two shared notes, a common stand-in for the tonic
Gm – mediant minor (iii): two shared notes
E♭maj7 – a softer, jazzier tonic colour
E♭sus4 – suspended version that resolves back to this chord

Same notes

Cm7 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

E♭ – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

E♭13 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the E♭6 chord?

E♭, G, B♭, C. The root is E♭; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, perfect fifth, major sixth.

What is the easiest way to play E♭6 on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”, rated easy. We show 3 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

Why is a note missing from some E♭6 shapes?

On a fretted instrument you can't always play every note of a 4-note chord. The fifth (B♭) may be dropped – the chord keeps its character without it.

How is the E♭6 chord written?

The chord symbol is E♭6 (also written Eb6), and its full name is E♭ sixth.