G major sixth

G6

Also written Gmaj6 · GM6 · Gadd6

NotesG · B · D · E
Formula1 · 3 · 5 · 6
G1B3D5E6
Root position

A tonic where the 6th does the 7th's job — sweeter than Gmaj7, the sound of a swing-era ending. G6 has exactly the notes of Em7; which one it is depends on the bass.

How pianists voice G6

Nobody plays a jazz chord in root position. These are the shapes that actually get played — the same ones Cadenza shows when you play the chord.

Shell Left hand

G1B3E6

1 · 3 · 6 — root, 3rd and 6th: the three notes that say what the chord is. Left hand, low; everything else is colour.

Rootless A From the 3rd

B3D5E6A9

3 · 5 · 6 · 9 — no root: the bass player has it. The left-hand voicing of modern jazz piano. Without G underneath, the same keys read as Bm11 — the bass turns them into G6.

Rootless B From the 6th

E6A9B3D5

6 · 9 · 3 · 5 — the other half of the pair. A and B alternate through a ii–V–I so the hand barely moves. Without G underneath, the same keys read as E7sus4 — the bass turns them into G6.

Drop 2 Two hands

D5G1B3E6

5 · 1 · 3 · 6 — close position with the second voice from the top dropped an octave: wider, warmer, the standard for chord melody.

G6 inversions

The same 4 notes with a different one in the bass. Each inversion is written as a slash chord.

Root position G6

G1B3D5E6

Root at the bottom, stacked in 3rds: 1 · 3 · 5 · 6.

1st inversion G6/B

B3D5E6G1

B (the 3) in the bass: 3 · 5 · 6 · 1.

2nd inversion G6/D

D5E6G1B3

D (the 5) in the bass: 5 · 6 · 1 · 3.

3rd inversion G6/E

E6G1B3D5

E (the 6) in the bass: 6 · 1 · 3 · 5.

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