G Major Scale
The G major scale has seven notes: G, A, B, C, D, E and F♯. It has 1 sharp (F♯), and it is the relative major of E minor.
Notes
- G1
- A2
- B3
- C4
- D5
- E6
- F♯7
Step pattern: W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step)
| Degree | Note | Interval from G |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | Root |
| 2 | A | Major 2nd |
| 3 | B | Major 3rd |
| 4 | C | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | D | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | E | Major 6th |
| 7 | F♯ | Major 7th |
On the piano
On the guitar
Root Scale tone
Key signature
G major has 1 sharp: F♯. See it on the circle of fifths →
Chords in the key of G major
| Numeral | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| I | G | Gmaj7 |
| ii | Am | Am7 |
| iii | Bm | Bm7 |
| IV | C | Cmaj7 |
| V | D | D7 |
| vi | Em | Em7 |
| vii° | F♯dim | F♯m7♭5 |
Common progressions
- Three-chordG – C – DI – IV – V
- Pop ("four chords")G – D – Em – CI – V – vi – IV
- Jazz ii–V–IAm – D – Gii – V – I
- 50s doo-wopG – Em – C – DI – vi – IV – V
Related scales
Practise it
- G major, three notes per stringTechnique · already in this key
- Legato trills (hammer-ons & pull-offs)Technique · moved down 5 frets into G
- ii–V–I lineJazz · moved up 7 frets into G
Explore it on the full fretboard · Piano scale explorer · Metronome