Banjo E6 chord (Double C)E sixth on the 5-string banjo: 1 1 1 2, and 4 more shapes

E6 chord chart for 5-string banjo in Double C tuning: 1 1 1 2, first position, with the short 5th string marked
E6 (E sixth) on the 5-string banjo, Double C: 1 1 1 2, string 4 to string 1 (no 5th). Fingers are numbered on the dots; copper marks the root; the green ring on the left is the 5th string, solid when it’s in the chord.

Frets, string 4 to string 1: 1 1 1 2 (first position) · no 5th

  1. String 4 (C): 1st fret, index finger (barre), C♯
  2. String 3 (G): 1st fret, index finger (barre), G♯
  3. String 2 (C): 1st fret, index finger (barre), C♯
  4. String 1 (D): 2nd fret, middle finger, E
  5. String 5, the short g: open, G, not in the chord

Sounds: C♯ G♯ C♯ E  ·  E6 is E, G♯, B, C♯ (1 · 3 · 5 · 6)

The 5th string: the short g rubs against the G♯ in this shape, a semitone away: some players let it ring, some skip it.

With a capo: on the 4th fret it’s 0 2 0 2 (frets counted from the capo), an open C6 shape. Spike the 5th string at the 9th fret to keep it in tune with the capo.

Double C tuning: gCGCD, the short 5th string first, then strings 4 to 1.

Hear it in the app ›

The link can’t set the tuning: the app starts in open G. Choose Double C once in its Settings and it remembers.

More E6 shapes

  1. 4fr1314gEC♯EG♯4 6 4 6
    4fr · no 5th
  2. 8fr1234gG♯EBC♯8 9 11 11
    8fr
  3. 11fr1234gBG♯C♯E11 13 13 14
    11fr
  4. 13fr1112gC♯G♯C♯E13 13 13 14
    13fr · no 5th

Other E chords in Double C

EEmE7Em7Emaj7E6Esus4Esus2EdimEaug

Other sixth chords

G6A6D6C6B6E6F6B♭6

E6 in other tunings

Open GSawmillOpen DC Tuning

All Double C banjo chords · Printable chart (PDF) · How to tune · The app