Banjo C6 chord (Open D)C sixth on the 5-string banjo: 2 3 3 5, and 5 more shapes
Frets, string 4 to string 1: 2 3 3 5 (from the 2nd fret)
- String 4 (D): 2nd fret, index finger, E
- String 3 (F♯): 3rd fret, middle finger, A
- String 2 (A): 3rd fret, ring finger, C
- String 1 (D): 5th fret, little finger, G
- String 5, the short f♯: open, F♯, not in the chord
Sounds: E A C G · C6 is C, E, G, A (1 · 3 · 5 · 6)
The 5th string: the short f♯ rubs against the G in this shape, a semitone away: some players let it ring, some skip it.
With a capo: on the 5th fret it’s 0 1 2 2 (frets counted from the capo), an open G6 shape. Spike the 5th string at the 10th fret to keep it in tune with the capo.
Open D tuning: f♯DF♯AD, the short 5th string first, then strings 4 to 1.
The link can’t set the tuning: the app starts in open G. Choose Open D once in its Settings and it remembers.
More C6 shapes
- 2 3 3 2
at the nut · no 5th - 5 6 7 7
5fr - 10 10 0 7
7fr · no 5th - 10 10 0 10
10fr · no 5th - 14 15 15 14
14fr · no 5th
Other C chords in Open D
Other sixth chords
C6 in other tunings
All Open D banjo chords · Printable chart (PDF) · How to tune · The app