G6 piano chord — the keys, the inversions, the theory

G6 is a sixth chord built from G, B, D, E. Below: the keys to press, every inversion with its own diagram, the intervals it is made of, the keys whose scale contains it, and a progression that actually uses it. Press any diagram to hear it.

G6

G · B · D · E

Piano keyboardC4C5

Semitones above the root: 0 – 4 – 7 – 9

A major third at the bottom is what makes this bright and settled.

Inversions of G6

  • Root position

    G · B · D · E · bass G

  • Inversion 1

    B · D · E · G · bass B

  • Inversion 2

    D · E · G · B · bass D

  • Inversion 3

    E · G · B · D · bass E

Same chord, different note at the bottom. Press a diagram to hear it — inversions are how you move between chords without jumping your hand across the keyboard.

Keys that contain G6

  • CV
  • GI
  • DIV

In C it does this job: I – V – vi – IV

  1. C
  2. G6
  3. Am
  4. F

Questions