Learn › Em6 Chord on Piano (E Minor 6th)
New Released in April 2026
Em6 Chord on Piano (E Minor 6th)
To play the Em6 chord on the piano, press E, G, B and C#. It is the minor triad Em plus the major 6th, C#. Expect a sound that is mysterious and cool, a minor chord with a lifted top.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
The formula of Em6
Start from Em, which you may already know, and change one thing: add C# on top, the major 6th.
Start chord: Em
| Note | Step | Interval | Keys from E |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | 1 | root | 0 |
| G | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| B | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| C# | 6 | major 6th | 9 |
Where your hand goes for Em6
Learn them in pairs: root position first, then the one that keeps the most notes still.
Root position: E G B C#
1st inversion: G B C# E
2nd inversion: B C# E G
3rd inversion: C# E G B
Fingering
| Right hand | E G B C# | 1 2 3 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Left hand | E G B C# | 5 3 2 1 |
The chord hiding inside Em6
Em6 shares all four notes with C#m7b5. Same keys, different bass: from E it is a minor sixth, from C# a half-diminished seventh.
Where Em6 is used
- Em6 works as a home chord in E minor, a colour heard in film and jazz endings.
- Inside D major the same four notes are the ii chord, so it fits there with no outside note.
Make Em6 automatic
- Find E, then add the other notes one at a time: E, G, B and C#.
- Switch between Em and Em6 ten times without looking at your hand.
- Try Em6 in 1st inversion, the position that sits closest to your last chord.
- Then test it in random order among other chords: recall under time pressure is what sticks.
Five minutes a day is enough to make Em6 feel easy.
Play Em6 in a game
ChordRunner shows a chord symbol and you play it on a MIDI keyboard, a real piano through the microphone or the on-screen keys. Sixth chords come in the level "Sixth & Add Chords".
Play the demoCommon questions
How do you play Em6 on the piano?
Press E, G, B and C# together. Right hand 1 2 3 5, left hand 5 3 2 1.
What is the difference between Em6 and Em?
Em is E G B. To get Em6, add C# on top, the major 6th.
Where is Em6 used?
Em6 works as a home chord in E minor, a colour heard in film and jazz endings. Inside D major the same four notes are the ii chord, so it fits there with no outside note.
Can I practise Em6 with a MIDI keyboard or a real piano?
Yes. In ChordRunner a USB MIDI keyboard is detected automatically, and an acoustic or digital piano works through the microphone. The game checks that E, G, B and C# sound together.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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