G major scale on guitar
The G major scale has seven notes: G, A, B, C, D, E and F♯ (1 2 3 4 5 6 7). The do-re-mi scale that every other scale is measured against. Bright and settled; it fits major and maj7 chords, and the other six modes are this scale started from a different note.
| Note | G | A | B | C | D | E | F♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | whole | half | whole | whole | whole | half |
5 positions to learn it in
On guitar a seven-note scale is learnt in five shapes, each built round one of the open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D. Together they cover the neck. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the G major scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; G (G) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (G) | Ghome | Gmaj7home |
| 2 (A) | Amrestless | Am7restless |
| 3 (B) | Bmhalf-light | Bm7half-light |
| 4 (C) | Cthe door | Cmaj7the door |
| 5 (D) | Dthe pull | D7the pull |
| 6 (E) | Emthe shadow | Em7the shadow |
| 7 (F♯) | F♯dimthe edge | F♯m7♭5the edge |
Scales with the same notes
Its relative minor is the E minor scale: the same notes, started from E.
The chords of this key, to hear and play: chords in the key of G major.
Questions
What notes are in the G major scale?
G, A, B, C, D, E and F♯. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, and the steps between its notes are W W H W W W H (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the G major scale?
The chords made only of its notes: G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em and F♯dim, and as seventh chords Gmaj7, Am7, Bm7, Cmaj7, D7, Em7 and F♯m7♭5. G is home: G is the chord it sounds most settled over.
What is the relative minor of the G major scale?
The E minor scale, which has the same notes started from E.
The major scale in every key
Other scales in G
G minorG minor pentatonicG major pentatonicG bluesG DorianG MixolydianG LydianG PhrygianG harmonic minorG melodic minorG Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.