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G Major Chord

G major is G, B and D. It can sound final in G major and unfinished just before C in C major. Its open guitar grip is useful for hearing both effects in the progressions below.

  • Notes: G-B-D
  • Symbol: G
  • Home chord of G major
  • Leads to C
Switch chordG

How to play a G major chord

Notes: G - B - D · symbol G

  • Root position

    G - B - D
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 1st inversion

    B - D - G
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 2nd inversion

    D - G - B
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-2-1

Where does G major belong?

All three notes come from the G major scale, so G major is the home chord of that key.
Press play on the role cards to hear the same chord do different jobs elsewhere; Diatonic Chords explains the numbered roles.

  • In G majorHome
    I

    A song in G major keeps coming back to this chord.

    CIVDVGI
  • In C majorTension
    V

    It pulls back to C: B wants to rise one half step to C.

    CIFIVGVCI
  • In D majorA step away
    IV

    A warm move away from D, softer than the V that follows.

    DIGIVAVDI
  • In C minorMinor-key dominant
    V

    Harmonic minor raises the third to B, so Cm sounds truly finished.

    CmiFmivGVCmi

Progressions to try

  • GCDG

    I-IV-V-I in G major returns after D.

  • GDEmC

    The I-V-vi-IV loop visits E minor before C turns it around.

  • CFGC

    G acts as V in C major; the final C answers it.

  • CmFmGCm

    G is the major V in C minor, and B natural points toward C.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, The open 320003 lets the outer G strings ring. Choose the 355433 barre at the 3rd fret for a compact movable version.

On ukulele, 0232 keeps the G string open; 4775 moves the chord up.

On piano, choose the first inversion when coming from the nearby chord C-E-G. Play G as B-D-G: G stays in place while C moves to B and E moves to D.

What are the inversions?

G is the root. B is the major third, four semitones above it; D is the fifth, seven semitones above it.

  • Root position: G-B-D, with G lowest.
  • First inversion: B-D-G, written G/B when B is the lowest note.
  • Second inversion: D-G-B, written G/D when D is the lowest note.

A separate bass instrument can change the lowest note even when the right hand plays an inversion. Chord Inversions explains what the slash tells the player.

How does G minor differ?

Keep G and D; lower only B to B flat. The result is G-B flat-D, the G minor chord. Use the comparer to hear that single change before judging the whole sound.

  • G

    G - B - D
    C4

    G major

  • Gm

    G - Bb - D
    C4

    G minor

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