Chords in the Key of G (1 sharp)
G is the campfire key. G, C, D, Em, all open, all six strings ringing on the I chord. More acoustic songs live in G than anywhere else, partly on merit and partly because of the capo.
The seven chords
| Degree | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| I | G | major |
| ii | Am | minor |
| iii | Bm | minor |
| IV | C | major |
| V | D | major |
| vi | Em | minor |
| vii° | F♯ dim | diminished |
G, C, and D are the majors, Am, Bm, and Em the minors, and F♯ diminished gets skipped by most guitar arrangements. Plenty of songs in G never leave G, C, D, and Em.
Common progressions
G, C, D. The I, IV, V, and the whole three-chord songbook with it.
G, D, Em, C. The four-chord pop axis. Several decades of hits use exactly this.
Scales to solo with
G major pentatonic is the lead scale for the major-key sound. E minor pentatonic is the same five notes from the relative minor side.
Keep exploring
Relative minor
Parallel minor
Neighbor keys, one accidental away
Key of G FAQ
What chords are in the key of G?
G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em, and F♯ diminished. The I, IV, and V are G, C, and D, and the relative minor is Em.
What is the relative minor of G major?
E minor. Same key signature, same seven chords, with Em treated as home.
How many sharps or flats does the key of G have?
1 sharp, F♯.