Major Sixth Chords
Major sixth chords are more commonly referred to as sixth chords. The chord symbol for the sixth chord is the major chord symbol followed by the number 6.
E Sixth Chord
E6
The E6 chord shape is an E chord with the additional note played by the fourth finger.
In the following chord progression use the alternative E7 chord shape given in the previous lesson. Hold the E chord shape throughout and move only the fourth finger to change chords.
A Sixth Chord
A6
The A6 chord shape is an A chord with the additional note played by the fourth finger. Another way of playing this shape is to bar all four strings with the first finger.
In the following progression, use the fingering from the previous diagram to play the A6 chord. For the A7 chord, just slide the fourth finger to the third fret of the 1st string. This will make the chord change easier.
Play this Blues in E using the previous two progressions. There are four chords in each bar, each receiving one strum, except bars 9 and 12 where a B7 chord is played.
Know Your Guitars...
Larrivee Parlor Guitar
The Larrivee Parlor guitar has a smaller body and shorter neck than standard acoustic guitars. This means the frets are closer together, making it easier for people with smaller hands to play . Despite its size, this guitar is surprisingly loud and has a beautiful tone. It's particularly good for Folk, Ragtime and Country Blues. Because of its smaller size, the Larrivee Parlor guitar was chosen as the staff guitar on the International Space Station.
