Banjo E6 chord (Double C)E sixth on the 5-string banjo: 1 1 1 2, and 4 more shapes
Frets, string 4 to string 1: 1 1 1 2 (first position) · no 5th
- String 4 (C): 1st fret, index finger (barre), C♯
- String 3 (G): 1st fret, index finger (barre), G♯
- String 2 (C): 1st fret, index finger (barre), C♯
- String 1 (D): 2nd fret, middle finger, E
- 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.
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
- 4 6 4 6
4fr · no 5th - 8 9 11 11
8fr - 11 13 13 14
11fr - 13 13 13 14
13fr · no 5th
Other E chords in Double C
Other sixth chords
E6 in other tunings
All Double C banjo chords · Printable chart (PDF) · How to tune · The app