PorchtoneQuick answer: the seven chords in G major are G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em, F♯°. The strongest are G, C and D (the I, IV and V); most songs in G lean on those.
The chords
| GIG B D | AmiiA C E | BmiiiB D F♯ | CIVC E G | DVD F♯ A | EmviE G B | F♯°vii°F♯ A C |
Progressions that sound good in G
- Pop anthemG – D – Em – C (I V vi IV)
Big, hopeful, singable. One of the most used progressions in pop.
- SensitiveEm – C – G – D (vi IV I V)
The same four chords starting on the minor: wistful, then lifting.
- FiftiesG – Em – C – D (I vi IV V)
Doo-wop and slow-dance warmth.
- LiftC – G – D – Em (IV I V vi)
Starts away from home, so it feels like it is always reaching.
- Slow burnG – Bm – C – D (I iii IV V)
Tender, with a gentle ache on the iii chord.
- HymnG – C – G – D (I IV I V)
Plain and honest; leaves room for the words.
- Three chordsG – C – D (I IV V)
The backbone of folk, country and rock and roll.
- HighwayG – F – C – G (I bVII IV I)
Open-road rock: the borrowed ♭VII gives it swagger.
- HeartlandG – F – C – C (I bVII IV IV)
Jangly, wide-open guitar rock.
- 12-bar bluesG7 – G7 – G7 – G7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – C7 – G7 – D7 (I7 I7 I7 I7 IV7 IV7 I7 I7 V7 IV7 I7 V7)
Twelve bars that most of rock and roll grew out of.
- Two-five-oneAm7 – D7 – Gmaj7 (ii7 V7 Imaj7)
The basic cadence of jazz standards.
Playing in G with a capo
If the barre chords in G are a stretch, put a capo on and play easier open shapes. The song still sounds in G.
| Capo | Play these shapes |
|---|---|
| Fret 3 | E, F♯m, G♯m, A, B, C♯m (shapes from E) |
| Fret 5 | D, Em, F♯m, G, A, Bm (shapes from D) |
| Fret 7 | C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am (shapes from C) |
Related keys
G major shares all its chords with its relative minor, E minor. Its closest neighbours are D major and C major, which share six of its seven notes and make easy key changes.