I-IV-V (the Three Chord Trick)
I · IV · V
The most fundamental progression in Western music.
Key of G
The Key of G Major
The chords in the key of G major are G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em and F♯dim.
The guitar's home key.
Below: all seven diatonic chords with guitar shapes and audio, the scale, the key signature (F♯), 8 progressions already transposed into this key, and the keys next door.
Diatonic chords
The 7 chords in the key of G major
Each degree of the G major scale carries one chord. Roman numerals show the degree; the function column tells you what the chord does. Every name links to its full chord page — press play to hear it on guitar.
| Degree | Function | Chord | Guitar shape | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | TonicTonicHome — rests | GG · B · D | ||
| ii | SubdominantSupertonicDeparts — sets up the V | AmA · C · E | ||
| iii | TonicMediantHome — rests | BmB · D · F♯ | ||
| IV | SubdominantSubdominantDeparts — sets up the V | CC · E · G | ||
| V | DominantDominantPulls back to I | DD · F♯ · A | ||
| vi | TonicSubmediantHome — rests | EmE · G · B | ||
| vii° | DominantLeading tonePulls back to I | F♯dimF♯ · A · C |
Want the same chords on another instrument? Every chord page carries piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo shapes — start with piano.
Character
Why songs live in G major
G major is where the guitar lives. G, C, D and Em are all open shapes, and the open low E, G and B strings are all scale tones, so the instrument keeps ringing sympathetically behind whatever you fret. Folk, country and bluegrass sit here so often that many players learn the key before they learn its name.
Scale
The G major scale
Seven notes, in order from the tonic. Tap any note to hear it, or play the whole scale ascending.
Fretboard patterns and full scale reference: G Major (Ionian).
Key signature
The G major key signature
F♯
G major is written with 1 sharp. Every F in the music is played sharp unless an accidental says otherwise. Its relative minor, E minor, shares this signature exactly.
Progressions
Chord progressions in G major
The most-used progressions, already transposed into G major. Every chord links to its own page; the progression name opens the full breakdown.
I-V-vi-IV (the Pop Punk Progression)
I · V · vi · IV
The 4-chord pop progression that powers thousands of hits.
vi-IV-I-V (Sensitive Female)
vi · IV · I · V
The minor-flavored sibling of I-V-vi-IV.
I-vi-IV-V (the Doo-Wop)
I · vi · IV · V
The 1950s ballad backbone.
I-IV-I-V
I · IV · I · V
Classic 4-bar phrase with a leading-tone pull on bar 4.
I-♭VII-IV (Mixolydian Rock)
I · ♭VII · IV
Mixolydian flavor; classic rock pull.
12-Bar Blues
I · I · I · I · IV · IV · I · I · V · IV · I · V
The defining blues form. 4 bars I, 2 bars IV, 2 bars I, 1 bar V, 1 bar IV, 1 bar I, 1 bar V (turnaround).
8-Bar Blues
I · V · IV · IV · I · V · I · V
Compressed blues form.
FAQ
Questions about the key of G major
- What chords are in the key of G major?
- The key of G major contains seven diatonic chords: G (I), Am (ii), Bm (iii), C (IV), D (V), Em (vi), F#dim (vii°). Most songs in G major lean on G, C and D — the tonic, subdominant and dominant.
- What is the relative minor of G major?
- E minor is the relative minor of G major. Both keys share the same key signature (1 sharp) and exactly the same seven notes — E minor simply treats E as home instead of G, which is why you can borrow chords freely between them.
- What are the easiest chords in G major to play on guitar?
- G, Am, C and D are the open shapes in G major — no barre required. The rest of the diatonic chords need a barre or a movable grip, so many players capo instead and use familiar open shapes from an easier key.
Learn the theory
Read up on G major
This page is the reference. These are the guides that explain how a key works in the first place — read one and the table above stops needing to be looked up.