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Guitar Chords in the Key of G - Method 1

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The Key of G Major: Skip to chords Chords based on the G Major Scale: G, A, B, C, D, E, F Sharp and G. As you may have noticed the G Major Scale has one sharp. That is the F sharp.

Note: It is recommended that you learn the basic chords in the key of C Major first, before learning any of the other keys, since the page for the key of C teaches the basic theory behind chord construction.

The basic chords for the key of G Major are based on the triad (1st, 3rd and 5th) except for the d 7th chord which is based on four different notes. The chords in the key of G are in the same order as presented in the key of C with the only difference being that it has been transposed to a different key. So, in order to transpose something from the key of C into the key of G, all you need to do is use the chart of the same number. For example: the basic chords from chart 1 in the key of C can be transposed to the basic chords in the key of G by using chart 1 of the key of G. The same is true for the remaining chord charts 2 through 5.

Below you will see that there are some chords that you already know. Like the A Minor, C Major and E Minor chords. With each key from this point on, there will be some chords that you have already seen. So learning each additional key gets easier as time progresses.
 

Chart 1: The Basic chords in the key of G

Chord: G Major Numeric: 300023 Fingering: 400023
Chord: A Minor Numeric: 01220X Fingering: 01320X
Chord: B Minor Numeric: 23442X Fingering: 12431X    2nd Fret is barred
Chord: C Major Numeric: 01023X Fingering: 01023X
Chord: D Major Numeric: 2320XX Fingering: 2310XX
Chord: E Minor Numeric: 000220 Fingering: 000320
Chord: D 7th Numeric: 2120XX Fingering: 3120XX

Explanation: Skip to Chords The full name for a seventh chord (like the D 7th in this case) is actually a Dominant 7th chord. The dominant tone is a name given to the fifth tone of a scale. Since the D is the fifth tone of the G Major scale, the 7th chord you use is the D Dominant 7th chord. Usually referred to as just a D 7th. The fifth tone of the scale can always be used as the root tone for the dominant 7th chord in any key. For example: the fifth tone of the C Major scale is the G. The G note can be used as the root tone for a G dominant 7th chord or the most commonly referred to "G 7th."

However, if you start out on the G note in the key of G Major, the seventh note of the scale is an F sharp. So a major seventh has a seventh that is a half step higher than its Dominant 7th counterpart. For example: the G Major 7th chord contains a G, B, D, and F sharp. The G Dominant 7th chord contains the G, B, D and F notes.

You have some substitute chords below in the next chart. The same rules apply in the key of G that you have already applied from the key of C.

Chart 2: Some substitute chords for the key of G

Chord: G Major 7th Numeric: 200023 Fingering: 100023
Chord: A Minor 7th Numeric: 01020X Fingering: 01020X
Chord: B Minor 7th Numeric: 23242X Fingering: 12131X   2nd Fret is barred
Chord: C Major 7th Numeric: 00023X Fingering: 00023X
Chord: E Minor 7th Numeric: 030220 Fingering: 040320

Now let's move on to the 9th chords.

Chart 3: More substitute chords for the key of G

Chord: G Major 9th Numeric: 500453 Fingering: 400231
Chord: A Minor 9th Numeric: 75550X Fingering: 31110X     5th Fret is barred
Chord: C Major 9th Numeric: 03453X Fingering: 02341X
Chord: E Minor 9th Numeric: 230220 Fingering: 340210
Chord: D 9th Numeric: 55545X Fingering: 33312X 5th Fret is barred

Okay, let's move on to the suspended 2nd and suspended 4th chords.

Chart 4: Even more substitute chords for the key of G

Chord: E Suspended  2nd Numeric: 2542XX Fingering: 1431XX  2nd Fret is barred
Chord: E Suspended  4th Numeric: 002220 Fingering: 004320
Chord: A Suspended  2nd Numeric: 00220X Fingering: 00320X
Chord: A Suspended  4th Numeric: 03220X Fingering: 04320X
Chord: B Suspended  4th Numeric: 25442X Fingering: 14321X  2nd Fret is barred

 


The Key of E Minor:       Chords based on the E Harmonic Minor Scale

Explanation: Skip to Chords Each major key has its own relative minor key. The relative minor key to the Key of G is E Minor. The following chords in Chart 5 are based on the E Harmonic Minor Scale. The E Harmonic Minor Scale is comprised of the following notes:
E, F sharp, G, A, B, C, D sharp and E

Chart 5: The basic chords in the key of E Minor

Chord: E Minor Numeric: 000220 Fingering: 000320
Chord: F Sharp Diminished Numeric: 5454XX Fingering: 3121XX  4th Fret is barred
Chord: G Augmented Numeric: 300123 Fingering: 400123
Chord: A Minor Numeric: 01220X Fingering: 01320X
Chord: B Major Numeric: 24442X Fingering: 14321X  2nd Fret is barred
Chord: C Major Numeric: 01023X Fingering: 01023X
Chord: D Sharp Diminished Numeric: 2121XX Fingering: 3121XX 1st Fret is barred

The 6th Chord:

Now for the 6th chords.

Chart 6: Major and Minor 6th chords

Chord: G 6th Numeric: 7575XX Fingering: 4131XX  5th Fret is barred
Chord: A Minor 6th Numeric: 21220X Fingering: 41320X
Chord: C 6th Numeric: 55553X Fingering: 33331X   5th Fret is barred
Chord: D 6th Numeric: 2020XX Fingering: 2010XX

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