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G-flat Major Chord
The G-flat Major Chord is G-flat, B-flat, and D-flat, all three on black keys. It's the same set of keys as F-sharp major, written with flats. The hand rests right on top of the black keys, and a light, close touch keeps the narrow keys from feeling slippery.
How to play the G-flat Major Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the G-flat Major Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.
The G-flat Major Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the G♭ major chord are stacked in thirds with G♭ on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.
| G-flat Major Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | G♭ B♭ D♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | G♭ |
The G-flat Major Chord in first inversion
In first inversion, the third of the chord (B♭) becomes the bottom note, and the root (G♭) jumps up to the top.
| G-flat Major Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | B♭ D♭ G♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 5 |
| Chord Symbol | G♭6 or G♭/B♭ |
The G-flat Major Chord in second inversion
In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (D♭) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (B♭) goes to the top.
| G-flat Major Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | D♭ G♭ B♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | G♭6/4 or G♭/D♭ |
G-flat Major Chord theory and function
A major chord is the most settled sound in tonal music. What it does depends on the key around it: it can be home, it can lead away from home, or it can pull back toward it.
The G♭ major chord is the tonic (I) in G♭ major and the subdominant (IV) in D♭ major. In minor keys, it is the mediant (III) in E♭ minor and the submediant (VI) in B♭ minor. On the keyboard this is the same chord as F♯ major, and the spelling follows the key. The F♯ major chord is the dominant (V) in B major. In minor keys, it is the subtonic (VII) in G♯ minor and the dominant (V) in B minor.
Three chords, I, IV, and V, account for a great deal of the hymns, folk songs, and early classical pieces a student will meet. In G♭ major that is G♭ – C♭ – D♭ – G♭. Try listening for the job the chord is doing: after the dominant it sounds like arriving, and after the tonic it sounds like stepping away.
Other chords built on G-flat
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