G major

One sharp, F♯. Seven notes: G A B C D E F♯. Every open string is in the key. Try the key’s seven chords in different places on the neck. Press a shape to hear it and see its notes.

Signature: 1♯
Relative: E minor
Parallel: G minor

Labels

NotesR 3 5Degrees

Across one chord in different positions. Down the chords in one position.
IMainGG · B · D
iiAmA · C · E
iiiBmB · D · F♯
IVMainCC · E · G
VMainDD · F♯ · A
viMainEmE · G · B
vii°F♯°F♯ · A · C

Light up

Anchor chords. Keep fingers 3 and 4 on fret 3 of the two highest strings while the other fingers change chords. Let those two notes ring through.

G
Cadd9
Dsus4
Em7

Walk up to C. Strum G, pick A and B on the way up, land on C. Listen to how the bass connects the chords.

Triads on the top three strings. Three notes, three places, all G. Try them when a full six-string chord feels too busy.

LowFrets 3–4
MiddleFrets 7–8
HighFrets 10–12

Same chords, higher. The four main chords in the open position, then again in frets 4 to 8. Listen to how the higher voicings change the sound.

Four chords in one positionG – C – D – Em without leaving frets 2 to 5.70 bpmLevel 1
Climb with one chordG in all four places, low to high. Hear it brighten.60 bpmLevel 1
Ringing anchor chordsG – Cadd9 – Dsus4 – Em7. Two fingers never move.80 bpmLevel 1
Walk up to CStrum G, then walk the bass A – B into C.90 bpmLevel 2
Scale, then chordsPlay the scale in frets 4 to 8, then the four chords there.70 bpmLevel 2

The four-chord loop
I – V – vi – IV
- G
- D
- Em
- C
The three-chord song
I – IV – V – I
- G
- C
- D
- G
The fifties ballad
I – vi – IV – V
- G
- Em
- C
- D
The jazz cadence
ii7 – V7 – Imaj7
- Am7
- D7
- Gmaj7

G major

G
A
B
C
D
E
F♯

C major

G major is C major with F raised to F♯.

5♭D♭B♭m

4♭A♭Fm

3♭E♭Cm

2♭B♭Gm

1♭F Dm

0C Am

1♯G Em

2♯D Bm

3♯A F♯m

4♯E C♯m

5♯B G♯m

6♯F♯D♯m

G major

Four patterns to try

Five drills, with a click

Strum along

C major with F raised

Move one step, or jump anywhere

G major

Modes of these notes