G major chord
G major chord for guitar in different forms, both open and barre chords.
Alternative shapes
G
G
G barre 1st
G barre 2nd
Alternative fingerings
G
Relevant chords
G (no3)
Learn from video
Try in a chord progression
G - D - Em - C
Chords that sound good together with G major
The primary chords that sound good to combine with G in chord progressions are: Am, Bm, C, D, Em.
Follow-up chords
Chords that are likely to follow G major in progressions:
› C
› D
› Em
› Bm
Finger position (G chord)
Index (1st) finger or middle (2nd) finger on 5th (thinnest) string, 2nd fret.
Middle (2nd) finger or ring (3rd) finger on 6th (thinnest) string, 3rd fret.
Little (4th) finger on 1st (thinnest) string, 3rd fret.
Theory of the G chord
The notes that the G chord consists of are G, B, D. The main presented version (320003) includes a tripled root, a doubled third and a fifth. The main alternative version (320033) includes a tripled root, a third and a doubled fifth.
To get G7 add F.
To get Gmaj7 add F#.
To get G6 add E.
Comments
G (no3): this is a G major without the third (B).
The 320033 fingering
is sometimes referred to as G with added D.
Inversions
1st inversion: G/B (means that B is the bass note).
2nd inversion: G/D (means that D is the bass note).
Diagrams of these inversions
Assorted slash chords
Versions with alternate bass notes in short notation:
G/A: X00003
G/C: X30003
G/E: 020003
G/F: 120003
G/F#: 220003
Alternative chord names
G/F is identical with G7/F.
G/F# is identical with Gmaj7/F#.
G/E is identical with G6/E and Em7.
G/A is identical with Gmaj9/A.
Omissions (dyads)
G (no3) is a G major with no third (B).
G (no5) is a G major with no fifth (D).
Written in tab format
- 3 -
- 0 -
- 0 -
- 0 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
For pdf, see The Chord Reference ebook with over 800 chord charts.
Chord lick
A typical figure in bluegrass and country styles.
Alternative shapes and voicings
Here are other ways to play G major:
The first shape is built upon the open D major shape, the second shape is built upon the F major shape. The third shape (XX000X), most suitable for fingerpicking, use D as root note.
These versions are sometimes written GV and GIII, respectively, marking the positions by frets in Roman numerals. G chord on the 5th fret and on the 3rd fret, there is.
Another open chord variant is 32003X.
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