Tools / Chords / G major

G chord on guitar (G major)

Also written G, Gmaj or GM

G major contains the notes G, B, and D. The open shape is a beginner-friendly chord with a full, ringing sound.

Open · 3-2-0-0-0-33-2-0-0-0-3

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

G1Root

B3Major 3rd

D5Perfect 5th

Formula 1, 3, 5

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionG–B–DGBass G

First inversionB–D–GG/BBass B

Second inversionD–G–BG/DBass D

Why it sounds like that

G major is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, with the major third B giving it its bright quality. Compare it to G minor, which lowers the third to B♭.

What goes wrong with G major?

Touching the open D string with the middle finger and deadening it.
Not pressing the fretted notes hard enough, causing buzzing.

When to use it

G major is the tonic in G major, so it anchors progressions like G–C–D, the I–IV–V. It also appears in C major and D major keys. Use it for folk, country, and pop.

Changing to and from G major

From G major to C major, move the fingers to the C shape, keeping the index on the A string.
Sliding the shape up two frets to the 3rd fret gives A major.

Which voicing to use

The open position is the easiest and most common, with G in the bass. The 3rd fret barre shape gives the same voicing higher up. For a different bass, use the G/B inversion to put B in the bass.

How do you play a G major chord on guitar?

Open · 3-2-0-0-0-3

Beginner● On the diagram

G major is played in open position as 3 2 0 0 0 3: middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, index finger on the A string at fret 2 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The D, G and B strings ring open.

Tip — The fingers must fit closely on the low E, A, and high e strings without touching the open strings.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	3	2	G (1)
5 (A)	2	1	B (3)
4 (D)	open	—	D (5)
3 (G)	open	—	G (1)
2 (B)	open	—	B (3)
1 (e)	3	3	G (1)

Open · 3-2-0-0-3-3

Beginner

G major is played in open position as 3 2 0 0 3 3: middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, index finger on the A string at fret 2, ring finger on the B string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The D and G strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	3	2	G (1)
5 (A)	2	1	B (3)
4 (D)	open	—	D (5)
3 (G)	open	—	G (1)
2 (B)	3	3	D (5)
1 (e)	3	4	G (1)

3rd fret

Barre

G major is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 5 4 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the A string at fret 5, pinky finger on the D string at fret 5 and middle finger on the G string at fret 4.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	3	1 (barre)	G (1)
5 (A)	5	3	D (5)
4 (D)	5	4	G (1)
3 (G)	4	2	B (3)
2 (B)	3	1 (barre)	D (5)
1 (e)	3	1 (barre)	G (1)

10th fret

Barre

G major is played at the 10th fret as × 10 12 12 12 10: barre your index finger across fret 10, middle finger on the D string at fret 12, ring finger on the G string at fret 12 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 12. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	10	1 (barre)	G (1)
4 (D)	12	2	D (5)
3 (G)	12	3	G (1)
2 (B)	12	4	B (3)
1 (e)	10	1 (barre)	D (5)

G/B inversion

Beginner

G major is played in open position as × 2 0 0 0 3: index finger on the A string at fret 2 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 3. The D, G and B strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	2	1	B (3)
4 (D)	open	—	D (5)
3 (G)	open	—	G (1)
2 (B)	open	—	B (3)
1 (e)	3	2	G (1)

Common questions

How is G major written?

G major is written as G, Gmaj, or GM. There is no alternate root spelling for G major.

What is the difference between G major and G minor?

G major has a major third (B), while G minor has a minor third (B♭). This changes the chord from bright to somber.

Why does the open G major shape use all six strings?

All six strings are chord tones, so they can all ring out. This gives the chord a full, rich sound.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

B (3)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

open

—

G (1)

2 (B)

open

—

B (3)

1 (e)

G (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

B (3)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

open

—

G (1)

2 (B)

D (5)

1 (e)

G (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

G (1)

5 (A)

D (5)

4 (D)

G (1)

3 (G)

B (3)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

D (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

G (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

1 (barre)

G (1)

4 (D)

D (5)

3 (G)

G (1)

2 (B)

B (3)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

D (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

B (3)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

open

—

G (1)

2 (B)

open

—

B (3)

1 (e)

G (1)