Chords in the Key of G Major

The key of G Major contains seven diatonic chords: G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em, F#m. Use the interactive generator below to build progressions, hear them played back with drums and accompaniment, and export to MIDI.

Diatonic Chords in G Major

iii

vii

F#m

Relative Minor

The relative minor of G Major is E Minor. Both keys share the same set of notes and diatonic chords, but centre on a different tonic — making E Minor the natural choice for a darker or more melancholic feel.

Modes of G Major

Every mode below is built from the same seven notes as G Major, starting on a different scale degree.

G MajorI – ii – iii – IV – V – vi – vii

A Doriani – ii – III – IV – v – vi – VII

B Phrygiani – II – III – iv – v – VI – vii

C LydianI – II – iii – iv – V – vi – vii

D MixolydianI – ii – iii – IV – v – vi – VII

E Minori – ii – III – iv – v – VI – VII

About G Major

G Major is arguably the most popular key for guitar songwriting. The open G, C, D, and Em chord shapes are among the very first that most guitarists learn, and they combine to produce bright, uplifting progressions.

With just one sharp (F♯), G Major is easy to read and play on virtually any instrument. It is a favourite in pop, folk, country, and praise-and-worship music.

From The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" to countless campfire standards, G Major's sunny character and accessibility have made it one of the most recorded keys in popular music history.

The I–V–vi–IV (G–D–Em–C) is the pop progression of choice in this key, heard in "Love Story" by Taylor Swift and "Riptide" by Vance Joy. The I–IV–V (G–C–D) is the bedrock of country and folk. For a more reflective mood, the I–iii–IV–V (G–Bm–C–D) adds a touch of minor colour without leaving the major tonality.

On guitar, the open G (320003), C (x32010), D (xx0232), Em (022000), and Am (x02210) shapes are all beginner-friendly and sound full. This cluster of easy chords is the main reason G Major dominates acoustic songwriting. On piano, the single black key (F♯) barely disrupts the all-white-key feel, making G Major a natural next step after learning in C.

G Major’s relative minor is E minor, the most common minor key in guitar music thanks to the open Em chord. The dominant key (V) is D Major and the subdominant (IV) is C Major. These three keys — G, C, and D — share so many chords that songs frequently drift between them, and many jam sessions cycle through all three without a formal key change.