chords in the key of g

chords in the key of g are I G (3 2 0 0 0 3), ii Am (x 0 2 2 1 0), iii Bm (x 2 4 4 3 2), IV C (x 3 2 0 1 0), V D (x x 0 2 3 2), vi Em (0 2 2 0 0 0) and vii° F#dim (2 0 4 2 1 x).

One fingering each

G major charts put string 6, low E, on the left and string 1, high E, on the right. Dot numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. × is muted, ○ is open, and the letters under the strings are the notes you hear.

G major has 1 barre shape out of 7: Bm. The other 6 each include an open string.

G major, one shape each, low E to high E
Degree	Chord	Quality	Notes	Frets	Barre
I	G	Major	G B D	3 2 0 0 0 3	no barre
ii	Am	Minor	A C E	x 0 2 2 1 0	no barre
iii	Bm	Minor	B D F#	x 2 4 4 3 2	barre
IV	C	Major	C E G	x 3 2 0 1 0	no barre
V	D	Major	D F# A	x x 0 2 3 2	no barre
vi	Em	Minor	E G B	0 2 2 0 0 0	no barre
vii°	F#dim	Diminished	F# A C	2 0 4 2 1 x	no barre

I · Major

G

Frets from low E to high E: 3 2 0 0 0 3.

Sounding notes: G2 (1), B2 (3), D3 (5), G3 (1), B3 (3) and G4 (1).

Sixth string, low E: finger 2, fret 3, sounds G.
Fifth string, A: finger 1, fret 2, sounds B.
Fourth string, D: open, sounds D.
Third string, G: open, sounds G.
Second string, B: open, sounds B.
First string, high E: finger 3, fret 3, sounds G.

G is not a barre.

Open G in the chord finder

ii · Minor

Am

Frets from low E to high E: x 0 2 2 1 0.

Sounding notes: A2 (1), E3 (5), A3 (1), C4 (b3) and E4 (5).

Sixth string, low E: muted.
Fifth string, A: open, sounds A.
Fourth string, D: finger 2, fret 2, sounds E.
Third string, G: finger 3, fret 2, sounds A.
Second string, B: finger 1, fret 1, sounds C.
First string, high E: open, sounds E.

Am is not a barre.

Open Am in the chord finder

iii · Minor

Bm

Frets from low E to high E: x 2 4 4 3 2.

Sounding notes: B2 (1), F#3 (5), B3 (1), D4 (b3) and F#4 (5).

Sixth string, low E: muted.
Fifth string, A: finger 1, fret 2, sounds B.
Fourth string, D: finger 3, fret 4, sounds F#.
Third string, G: finger 4, fret 4, sounds B.
Second string, B: finger 2, fret 3, sounds D.
First string, high E: finger 1, fret 2, sounds F#.

Bm is a barre: finger 1 at fret 2.

Open Bm in the chord finder

IV · Major

C

Frets from low E to high E: x 3 2 0 1 0.

Sounding notes: C3 (1), E3 (3), G3 (5), C4 (1) and E4 (3).

Sixth string, low E: muted.
Fifth string, A: finger 3, fret 3, sounds C.
Fourth string, D: finger 2, fret 2, sounds E.
Third string, G: open, sounds G.
Second string, B: finger 1, fret 1, sounds C.
First string, high E: open, sounds E.

C is not a barre.

Open C in the chord finder

V · Major

D

Frets from low E to high E: x x 0 2 3 2.

Sounding notes: D3 (1), A3 (5), D4 (1) and F#4 (3).

Sixth string, low E: muted.
Fifth string, A: muted.
Fourth string, D: open, sounds D.
Third string, G: finger 1, fret 2, sounds A.
Second string, B: finger 3, fret 3, sounds D.
First string, high E: finger 2, fret 2, sounds F#.

D is not a barre.

Open D in the chord finder

vi · Minor

Em

Frets from low E to high E: 0 2 2 0 0 0.

Sounding notes: E2 (1), B2 (5), E3 (1), G3 (b3), B3 (5) and E4 (1).

Sixth string, low E: open, sounds E.
Fifth string, A: finger 2, fret 2, sounds B.
Fourth string, D: finger 3, fret 2, sounds E.
Third string, G: open, sounds G.
Second string, B: open, sounds B.
First string, high E: open, sounds E.

Em is not a barre.

Open Em in the chord finder

vii° · Diminished

F#dim

Frets from low E to high E: 2 0 4 2 1 x.

Sounding notes: F#2 (1), A2 (b3), F#3 (1), A3 (b3) and C4 (b5).

Sixth string, low E: finger 2, fret 2, sounds F#.
Fifth string, A: open, sounds A.
Fourth string, D: finger 4, fret 4, sounds F#.
Third string, G: finger 3, fret 2, sounds A.
Second string, B: finger 1, fret 1, sounds C.
First string, high E: muted.

F#dim is not a barre.

Open F#dim in the chord finder

Scale notes

G major scale notes: G, A, B, C, D, E and F#.

Half steps in G major: B to C, and F# to G. Every other step is a whole step.

Every open string of standard tuning (low E, A, D, G and B) is a note of G major.

Open strings through fret 4. Gold dots are notes of G major.

Common progressions

I-V-vi-IV in G major is G, D, Em and C.

I-vi-IV-V in G major is G, Em, C and D.

Numerals	Chords	Play
I-V-vi-IV	G, D, Em and C	Hear it
I-vi-IV-V	G, Em, C and D	Hear it

On piano

The I chord on piano is G3, B3 and D4, MIDI 55, 59 and 62. The same pitch classes are G.

One octave from C. Gold keys are the G pitch classes, not a specific octave.

How this key sits on guitar

G, D, Em and C are the I-V-vi-IV loop. Each of those four charts includes an open string, so the loop does not need the Bm barre.

F#dim keeps the fifth string open, and that chart is not a barre.

Every major key uses the same quality order, and the Roman numerals for it are defined in Open Music Theory: Roman numerals.

Questions

What are the chords in the key of g?

The seven chords in the table: one for each note of the scale, with one chart each.

Do the same chords work on piano?

Yes. The phrases chords in g major key, chords in g major guitar, chords in key of g guitar, chords in g major scale piano and chords in the key of g piano all name this set. The piano section plays the I chord.