Shape characteristics
Barre chord
Your first finger flattens across multiple strings at the same fret. Movable up and down the neck to any key without changing the shape.
First position · fret 2-3
Sits near the nut where frets are widest. Lower string tension makes it easier to fret cleanly, a comfortable choice for singer-songwriter strumming and beginner-friendly progressions.
Full six-string voicing
All six strings ring, giving you the biggest, most resonant version of this chord, ideal for strumming and solo acoustic contexts.
Bass: E · Top: G
The 7th (or equivalent upper tone) is in the bass, producing a suspended, leading quality that naturally wants to resolve downward.
Compared to Shape 000203 , this voicing uses an open chord.
How to play this shape
- 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string, 4th string, and 5th string in barre position
- 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
- 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "022233" mean?
The sequence 022233 is a highly compact guitar chord notation. It represents the fret played on each of the 6 strings, reading left-to-right from the thickest (lowest pitch) string to the thinnest (highest pitch) string: E, A, D, G, B, e.
- x means the string is muted or skipped entirely.
- 0 means the string is played "open" (without pressing over a fret).
- 1-9 represent standard fret numbers 1 to 9.
- a, b, c... represent frets 10, 11, 12, and higher (where a=10, b=11, c=12).
Can I play this G6(add9)/E shape anywhere else?
Yes! This specific layout is just one way to voice a G6(add9)/E chord. You can find all other variations in our chord shape library for G6(add9)/E. Most guitarists choose different shapes based on whether they want a "brighter" or "deeper" sound, or which chord they are transitioning from.
How do I stop my fingers from buzzing?
Since this shape uses open strings (marked with '0'), make sure your fingers are arched like a "claw" so they don't accidentally brush against the open strings. Press down firmly just behind the metal fret wires for the clearest sound.
Other shapes
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