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Guitar chords · Minor 6th

G♯m6 chord on guitar (G#m6)

G♯m6 (G♯ minor 6th) has four notes: G♯, B, D♯ and E♯ (played as F), the , ♭3, 5 and 6.

Shapes

How to play G♯m6

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

G♯m6 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 4 or the A shape at fret 11. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • E shape · fret 4

    4frR5R♭36RG♯D♯G♯BE♯G♯
  • A shape · fret 11

    10fr××R6♭35G♯E♯BD♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes G♯m6 minor 6th

A minor 6th chord adds a major 6th to a minor chord. The 6th gives it a dark, slightly mysterious colour heard in jazz, bossa nova and film music.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The ♭3rd and the 6th make G♯m6 a minor 6th chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. G♯Rroot
  2. B♭3essential
  3. D♯5optional
  4. E♯6essential
EADGBE0135791215G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯E♯BD♯E♯BD♯E♯BD♯E♯BD♯E♯BD♯E♯BD♯E♯BE♯BD♯E♯
  • G♯, the root
  • Other chord tones

G♯m6 and A♭m6 are the same chord with two names: same , same sound. Which one you see depends on the key the song is written in.

Keys

Keys with G♯m6

G♯m6 belongs to two keys: F♯ major (ii6) and D♯ minor (iv6).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Slash chords

G♯m6 over another bass note

A keeps G♯m6 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • G♯m6/B

    G♯m6 with its ♭3rd, B, in the bass.

  • G♯m6/D♯

    G♯m6 with its 5th, D♯, in the bass.

Questions

G♯m6, in short

What notes are in the G♯m6 chord?
G♯m6 (G♯ minor 6th) has four notes: G♯, B, D♯ and E♯ (played as F), the , ♭3, 5 and 6.
How do you play G♯m6 on guitar?
G♯m6 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 4 or the A shape at fret 11.
What key is G♯m6 in?
G♯m6 belongs to two keys: F♯ major (ii6) and D♯ minor (iv6).
Is G♯m6 the same as A♭m6?
Yes: same frets, same sound, different name. G♯m6 is the spelling in F♯ major and D♯ minor; A♭m6 in G♭ major and E♭ minor.
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