G Major Scale on Guitar
G A B C D E F♯ — one sharp, and the most guitar-friendly key there is.
G major
Tap any fret to hear it. Gold dots are the root. Positions start at each scale note on the low string, so position 1 is the lowest box.
Notes and Intervals
| Note | Interval | From the root |
|---|---|---|
| G | R | Root · 0 semitones |
| A | 2 | Major 2nd · 2 semitones |
| B | 3 | Major 3rd · 4 semitones |
| C | 4 | Perfect 4th · 5 semitones |
| D | 5 | Perfect 5th · 7 semitones |
| E | 6 | Major 6th · 9 semitones |
| F♯ | 7 | Major 7th · 11 semitones |
Positions in Standard Tuning
| Position | Frets | Low E string starts on |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0–4 | E |
| 2 | 1–5 | F♯ |
| 3 | 2–6 | G · root |
| 4 | 4–8 | A |
| 5 | 6–10 | B |
| 6 | 7–11 | C |
| 7 | 9–13 | D |
Positions are numbered from the lowest box on the neck, as in the explorer above. Add 12 to any of them for the same shape an octave higher.
About the G Major Scale
The G major scale is G, A, B, C, D, E and F♯. It has one sharp, F♯. G is arguably the guitar's favourite key: its main chords — G, C, D and Em — are all easy open shapes, and the open strings D, G, B and E are all notes of the scale.
In open position the scale starts on the 3rd fret of the low E string and uses only frets 0 to 4. Up the neck, the same major-scale shapes as every other key apply.
Finding It on the Fretboard
The scale has 7 notes, so it has 7 positions: five-fret windows that each start on a different scale note on the low E string. The one that starts on the root, G, covers frets 2 to 6. It is the shape most lessons teach first, and the easiest to keep your bearings in, because the root is under your hand on both E strings. Use the position buttons in the explorer to isolate each one, and switch the labels to intervals to see what every fret does in the scale.
Chords in the Scale
Stacking every other note of the scale gives these seven chords. Any of them, and progressions made from them, can be played under the scale:
How to Practise It
- Learn the open-position G major scale across all six strings, letting the open strings ring.
- Play the scale over a G drone and listen for the F♯: it pulls strongly up to G. That pull is what makes it major.
- Practise the shape that starts with the root under your second finger at the 3rd fret; it moves to any key.
- Combine it with strumming G–C–D–Em, and play short scale runs between chords.
A steady reference makes every one of these more useful: open the drone generator on G in another tab and play against it.
The Chords of G Major
The seven chords of G major are G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em and F♯°. The I–IV–V (G, C, D) and I–V–vi–IV (G, D, Em, C) progressions in this key are behind a huge number of folk, country and pop songs.
Its relative minor is E minor, and its pentatonic cousin is G major pentatonic — the same scale with C and F♯ removed.
Explore every scale in every key in the scale explorer, or print the free guitar charts to practise away from a screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the notes of the G major scale?
G, A, B, C, D, E and F♯. It has one sharp: F♯.
Why is G a popular key for guitar?
Its main chords — G, C, D and Em — are all open shapes beginners learn first, and most of its notes are open strings, so it rings and resonates.
What is the relative minor of G major?
E minor. It uses the same seven notes, starting from E.