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G Major Chord
The G Major Chord is G, B, and D, all white keys. The notes are evenly spaced, so the hand settles into the shape easily. It's a bright, stable sound, and without any black keys to guide the fingers, it's worth noticing where the hand sits so the shape stays consistent.
How to play the G Major Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the G 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 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 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 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 Major Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | B D G |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 5 |
| Chord Symbol | G6 or G/B |
The G 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 Major Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | D G B |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | G6/4 or G/D |
More voicings of the G Major Chord
The voicing of a chord refers to the order and register of the notes being played. Once you have a good grasp of the fundamental inversions, try experimenting with some different voicings by re-ordering the chord tones and moving them around the piano.
G Major Chord theory and function
The G major chord is the root in the key of G major , the dominant (V) in the key of C major, and the subdominant (IV) in the key of D major.
Other chords built on G
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