What chords are in the key of G Major?

The key of G Major uses G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em. Those six cover almost every song written in G Major; the seventh, a diminished chord on the leading note, turns up far more rarely.

How many sharps or flats does G Major have?

G Major has 1 sharp in its key signature.

What is the relative minor of G Major?

E Minor — it shares the same notes and the same key signature as G Major, just centred on a different home chord. Songs slip between the two all the time.

What capo position is best for G Major?

None needed. G Major already falls under easy open shapes, so you can play it straight through with no capo.

Chords in the Key of G Major

G Major is built from G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em and carries 1 sharp in its key signature. It sits comfortably under open chords, so no capo is needed.

The 6 chords of G Major

Tap any diagram for a full fingering guide for that chord.

Chord numbers and numerals

Roman numerals are how theory writes a key; Nashville numbers are how session players call one on stage. Both say the same thing — the chord's position in the key, independent of which key you end up in.

Numeral	Nashville	Chord in G Major	Role
I	1	G	Home chord (tonic)
ii	2m	Am	Sets up the V
iii	3m	Bm	Gentle, wistful
IV	4	C	Subdominant
V	5	D	Dominant — pulls home
vi	6m	Em	Relative minor

More on this in the Nashville number system guide.

Common progressions in G Major

The same handful of progressions carry most of popular music. Here they are written out in this key.

The four-chord song

I – V – vi – IV

The most-used progression in modern pop and worship. If a song feels instantly familiar, it is usually this.

G→D→Em→C

The three-chord trick

I – IV – V

Folk, blues, country and early rock live here. Three chords and the truth.

G→C→D

The sensitive rotation

vi – IV – I – V

The same four chords starting on the relative minor, which makes it feel wistful rather than triumphant.

Em→C→G→D

The '50s progression

I – vi – IV – V

Doo-wop and slow-dance ballads — think of any song with a swung 6/8 feel.

G→Em→C→D

The jazz cadence

ii – V – I

The strongest resolution in tonal music, and the backbone of jazz standards.

Am→D→G

Playing G Major on guitar

How hard this key is has nothing to do with the music and everything to do with where the notes fall on the neck.

G Major is one of the guitar-friendly keys. Its chords land on open shapes, which is why so many songs get written in it — the instrument nudges you there.

Its relative minor is E Minor — same notes, same key signature, different centre of gravity. The parallel key, G Minor, keeps the same home note but flips the mood; borrowing a chord from it is one of the oldest tricks for making a chorus land.

Move a song into or out of G Major

If G Major does not fit the singer, these pages show exactly which chord becomes which.

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of G Major?: The key of G Major uses G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em. Those six cover almost every song written in G Major; the seventh, a diminished chord on the leading note, turns up far more rarely.
How many sharps or flats does G Major have?: G Major has 1 sharp in its key signature.
What is the relative minor of G Major?: E Minor — it shares the same notes and the same key signature as G Major, just centred on a different home chord. Songs slip between the two all the time.
What capo position is best for G Major?: None needed. G Major already falls under easy open shapes, so you can play it straight through with no capo.

Have a chart in G Major?

Upload the PDF or a photo and move every chord to whatever key you need — the layout stays exactly as printed, capo banner included.

Transpose a chart Capo for G Major