D6 Chord
Open Position · D-String RootThe open D6 — two fingers. Index on the G string at fret 2 for A, middle on the high e at fret 2 for F#, and let the open D and B strings ring. The open B is the 6th: an open D chord has that string at fret 3, so lifting the ring finger off is literally all it takes. Strum from the D string down.
D6 Chord
5th Fret · A-String RootThe A-shape barre chord with one note moved. Index on the A string at fret 5 for D, then flatten the ring finger across the D, G, B and high e strings at fret 7 — that gives A, D, F# and B. In a plain major barre the high e would sit back at fret 5; pushing it up two frets is the whole difference between D and D6. Mute the low E.
D6 Chord
10th Fret · E-String RootThe jazz 6th grip — four notes, one per string, no barre. Middle finger on the low E at fret 10 for D, index on the D string at fret 9 for B (the 6th), pinky on the G string at fret 11 for F# and ring on the B string at fret 10 for A. The underside of the middle finger mutes the A string and the fingers' pads keep the high e quiet. The 6th sits in the middle of the chord rather than on top, which is the close, warm sound of swing rhythm guitar.
One note on top of a major chord
Start from D major — D, F#, A — and add B, the note a whole step above the 5th. Nothing is taken away, which is why D6 can stand in for a plain D almost anywhere.
Same notes as Bm7
D6 and Bm7 are spelled with the same four notes. Put D in the bass and it is D6; put B in the bass and it is Bm7. Every shape on this page keeps D lowest, so let the root ring.
Use it as a home chord
A 6th chord is stable — unlike a 7th it does not pull anywhere. That is why jazz, swing and western swing so often end a tune on D6 instead of a plain D.
The boogie shuffle
Blues and rock and roll rhythm parts rock between the 5th and the 6th over the root: D and A, then D and B, back and forth. That shuffle is the 6th chord broken into two halves.
Slide the grip
The shapes on this page that sit off the nut use no open strings, so they slide. Move one up two frets and you have E6; down one and you have C#6.
About the D6 Chord on Guitar
The D6 chord is built from four notes: D (the root), F# (the major 3rd), A (the perfect 5th) and B (the major 6th) — formula 1 – 3 – 5 – 6. It is a D major triad with one note added, the 6th, which sits a whole step above the 5th. Nothing is taken away, so the chord is still major and still settled; the 6th only softens it into the sweet, slightly vintage sound of swing, western swing, doo-wop and early rock and roll, where D6 is a favourite last chord. It is written as a bare 6 after the root letter, and occasionally as Dmaj6 or Dadd6 — all three mean the same chord. D6 also has an unusual twin: Bm7 contains exactly the same four notes, B–D–F#–A, so the name depends on which note is in the bass. With D lowest, as in every shape here, it is D6. Do not confuse it with Dmaj7, which adds the major 7th instead of the 6th, with Dm6, which keeps the 6th but flattens the 3rd, or with D6/9, which adds the 9th on top as well. This page covers three voicings: the open D-string shape, the A-string root barre at fret 5, and the E-string jazz grip at fret 10. Every diagram is interactive and playable with acoustic guitar sound.
- 013 D6 chord shapes from beginner to intermediate
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Built from 4 notes: D, F#, A and B (formula 1 – 3 – 5 – 6)
- 05A-string root, E-string root, and D-string root voicings
- 06Difficulty rating on every shape
- 07Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 4 notes that form the D Major 6th chord and their role in the major scale.
Every major 6th chord follows this same formula — root, major third, perfect fifth, and the major 6th added on top (no 7th).
Frequently Asked Questions
Play x-x-0-2-0-2 — index on the G string at fret 2, middle on the high e at fret 2, and let the open D and B strings ring. The open B is the 6th. Mute the low E and A.
D, F#, A and B — root, major 3rd, perfect 5th and major 6th.
Same four notes, different bass. D6 is D–F#–A–B; Bm7 is B–D–F#–A. With D as the lowest note it is D6, which is how every shape on this page is voiced.
As a softer, sweeter D major — the final chord of a jazz or swing tune, the home chord of a doo-wop progression, or anywhere a plain D sounds too bare. It is stable, so unlike D7 it does not need to resolve.