The 7 chords
G · Am · Bm · C · D · Em · F#dim
Every major key follows the same pattern: major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, diminished.
Chord chart
G Major chord chart
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes | 7th chord | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | G | G – B – D | Gmaj7 | Tonic |
| 2 | ii | Am | A – C – E | Am7 | Supertonic |
| 3 | iii | Bm | B – D – F# | Bm7 | Mediant |
| 4 | IV | C | C – E – G | Cmaj7 | Subdominant |
| 5 | V | D | D – F# – A | D7 | Dominant |
| 6 | vi | Em | E – G – B | Em7 | Submediant |
| 7 | vii° | F#dim | F# – A – C | F#m7b5 | Leading tone |
G major scale: G – A – B – C – D – E – F#. Key signature: 1 sharp (F♯).
Progressions
Common chord progressions in G Major
The pop progression
I – V – vi – IV
- IG
- VD
- viEm
- IVC
The four-chord loop behind a huge share of modern pop, rock and worship songs.
Three-chord progression
I – IV – V – I
- IG
- IVC
- VD
- IG
The three primary chords, I, IV and V — the backbone of blues, folk, country and early rock and roll.
Minor-start loop
vi – IV – I – V
- viEm
- IVC
- IG
- VD
The pop progression started on the vi. Same four chords, but opening on the minor chord makes the loop sound darker.
50s progression
I – vi – IV – V
- IG
- viEm
- IVC
- VD
The doo-wop progression of 1950s ballads, and still one of the most common loops in songwriting.
ii – V – I
ii7 – V7 – Imaj7
- ii7Am7
- V7D7
- Imaj7Gmaj7
The jazz cadence, played with 7th chords as it almost always is. The single most common move in jazz standards.
Canon progression
I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V
- IG
- VD
- viEm
- iiiBm
- IVC
- IG
- IVC
- VD
The eight-chord sequence of Pachelbel's Canon, borrowed by countless pop songs since.
Want more? Generate a progression in G Major by style, or build your own in the Chord Progression Player.
7th chords
7th chords in the key of G Major
Add the next note of the scale on top of each chord and you get its diatonic 7th chord — the sound of jazz, soul and R&B in G major.
On guitar
Playing in G Major on guitar
5 of the 7 chords are open chords (G, Am, C, D, Em); Bm, F#dim need a barre or a moveable shape.
Scales for soloing in G Major
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The key of G major has seven chords: G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em and F#dim. Each is built from the notes of the G major scale (G A B C D E F#), so all seven share one key signature: 1 sharp (F♯).
G, C and D — the I, IV and V chords. Those three contain every note of the G major scale between them, which is why so many songs in G major use little else.
E minor. It uses the same seven chords and the same key signature as G major; the difference is which chord feels like home. A song that keeps returning to Em is in E minor; one that settles on G is in G major.
1 sharp (F♯). G major shares its key signature with its relative minor, E minor.
D, the V chord. Its 7th chord, D7, is the only dominant 7th in the key, and D7 → G is the strongest way to end a song in G major.
Gmaj7, Am7, Bm7, Cmaj7, D7, Em7 and F#m7b5. Each adds the next note of the scale on top of the triad, which gives two major 7ths, three minor 7ths, one dominant 7th and one half-diminished (m7♭5).
Stacking the scale notes on F# gives F#, A, C: a minor 3rd and then another minor 3rd, so the 5th is flattened. It is the least-used chord in the key — songs often skip it, or use D7 where it would go.
Yes. 5 of its 7 chords are open chords — G, Am, C, D and Em — so most songs in G major can be played without a barre; only Bm and F#dim need one or a moveable shape.
Related Tools
Circle of FifthsSee every key, its relative minor and its neighbours on one wheelKey FinderPaste a progression and detect its key with Roman numeral analysisChord Progression GeneratorPick a key and style to generate a diatonic progressionCapo CalculatorFind the capo position to play any key with open shapes