Key · major
The key of G Major
G Major has 1 sharp (F♯). Its scale is G A B C D E F♯. The seven chords built on those degrees are I G, ii Am, iii Bm, IV C, V D, vi Em and vii° F♯dim; the dominant is D and the subdominant C. Its relative minor is E Minor and its parallel minor is G Minor.
The scale on the keyboard
Fingering for both hands, the step pattern and the other forms are on the G Major scale page.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Name | Interval from the tonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | Tonic | Unison |
| 2 | A | Supertonic | Major 2nd |
| 3 | B | Mediant | Major 3rd |
| 4 | C | Subdominant | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | D | Dominant | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | E | Submediant | Major 6th |
| 7 | F♯ | Leading Tone | Major 7th |
Chords in G Major
One chord on each degree of the scale. The dominant is D and the subdominant C.
| Numeral | Triad | Quality | Seventh |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | G | Major | Gmaj7 |
| ii | Am | Minor | Am7 |
| iii | Bm | Minor | Bm7 |
| IV | C | Major | Cmaj7 |
| V | D | Major | D7 |
| vi | Em | Minor | Em7 |
| vii° | F♯dim | Diminished | F♯m7♭5 |
Chord functions
| Function | Chords |
|---|---|
| Tonic | I · iii · vi |
| Subdominant | ii · IV |
| Dominant | V · vii° |
Common progressions in G Major
| Progression | Chords | Level |
|---|---|---|
| I – IV – V | G – C – D | Easy |
| I – IV – V – I | G – C – D – G | Easy |
| I – V – vi – IV | G – D – Em – C | Easy |
| I – vi – IV – V | G – Em – C – D | Easy |
| I – IV – I – V | G – C – G – D | Easy |
| I – V – IV – I | G – D – C – G | Easy |
| I – IV – V – IV | G – C – D – C | Easy |
| I – ii – IV – V | G – Am – C – D | Easy |
| vi – IV – I – V | Em – C – G – D | Medium |
| I – vi – ii – V | G – Em – Am – D | Medium |
| I – IV – vi – V | G – C – Em – D | Medium |
| I – iii – IV – V | G – Bm – C – D | Medium |
| I – iii – vi – IV | G – Bm – Em – C | Medium |
| IV – I – V – vi | C – G – D – Em | Medium |
| I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V | G – D – Em – Bm – C – G – C – D | Medium |
| I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I | G – C – F♯dim – Bm – Em – Am – D – G | Hard |
| ii – V – I | Am – D – G | Medium |
| iim7 – V7 – Imaj7 | Am7 – D7 – Gmaj7 | Hard |
| ii – V – I – vi | Am – D – G – Em | Hard |
| I – VI – ii – V | G – E – Am – D | Hard |
| I – II – V – I | G – A – D – G | Hard |
| I – bVII – IV – I | G – F – C – G | Medium |
| I – bIII – IV | G – B♭ – C | Medium |
| I – V – bVII – IV | G – D – F – C | Medium |
| I – bVI – bVII – I | G – E♭ – F – G | Hard |
| I – IV – iv – I | G – C – Cm – G | Hard |
| 12-Bar Blues (I7 – IV7 – V7) | G7 – G7 – G7 – G7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – C7 – G7 – D7 | Medium |
| Quick-Change Blues | G7 – C7 – G7 – G7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – C7 – G7 – D7 | Medium |
The other keys
Part of the key reference. See also the chords and the scales.