D6 Chord on Guitar

Notes D F♯ A B. Start with open D6 (x x 0 2 0 2): two fingers at fret 2 on strings 3 and 1, strings 4 and 2 open.

Chord · D6 major 6th

D6 chord, Open D6××D1AB2F♯

Open D6 · x x 0 2 0 2
open strings

1 D3 F♯5 A6 B

Voicing · 3 shapes, easiest first
Fingers, low to high
  • String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
  • String 5 (A): muted, do not play
  • String 4 (D): open
  • String 3 (G): index (1), fret 2
  • String 2 (B): open
  • String 1 (high e): middle (2), fret 2

Notes and formula

DegreeNoteInterval from D
1Droot
3F♯major 3rd
5Aperfect 5th
6Bmajor 6th

Formula 1 3 5 6 (major 6th).

Keys that contain D6

KeyD6 is the
D major I6
A major IV6

Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.

Playing D6: what goes wrong

The open B is the 6th

Open D is x x 0 2 3 2. In D6 string 2 is left open: that B is the 6th, so D6 is open D with the high note on string 2 replaced by an open string.

Same notes as Bm7

D6 is D, F♯, A, B; Bm7 is B, D, F♯, A. A bass of D makes D6, a bass of B makes Bm7.

Four strings only

Strings 6 and 5 are not played (the x marks), so the lowest note is the open D string.

Related chords

Learn and practise D6

FAQ

What notes are in D6?

D, F♯, A, B: the 1, 3, 5, 6 of the D6 major 6th chord.

What is the difference between D and D6?

D6 adds B, the major 6th: D, F♯, A, B. In the open shape the high D on string 2 becomes the open B.

All chords: the full chord directory