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Chords in the Key of G Major

Every diatonic triad and seventh chord in G major, with the progressions built from them. Free. No sign-up.

Key facts

Key signature
one sharp (F#)
Scale notes
G · A · B · C · D · E · F#
Relative minor
E Minor
Parallel minor
G Minor

Diatonic triads

The seven diatonic triads in G Major
DegreeChordQualityNotes
IGmajorG · B · D
iiAmminorA · C · E
iiiBmminorB · D · F#
IVCmajorC · E · G
VDmajorD · F# · A
viEmminorE · G · B
vii°F#dimdiminishedF# · A · C

Seventh chords

Stack one more scale tone on each triad and you get the seventh chords — same key, more color.

The seven diatonic seventh chords in G Major
DegreeChordQualityNotes
Imaj7Gmaj7major 7thG · B · D · F#
ii7Am7minor 7thA · C · E · G
iii7Bm7minor 7thB · D · F# · A
IVmaj7Cmaj7major 7thC · E · G · B
V7D7dominant 7thD · F# · A · C
vi7Em7minor 7thE · G · B · D
viiø7F#m7b5half-diminishedF# · A · C · E

Common progressions in G major

  • I–V–vi–IV

    G – D – Em – C

    The four-chord pop loop — a huge share of modern radio runs on it.

  • I–IV–V

    G – C – D

    The three-chord workhorse behind blues, folk, and early rock and roll.

  • ii–V–I

    Am – D – G

    The jazz cadence — the strongest pull back home in the key.

  • I–vi–IV–V

    G – Em – C – D

    The '50s doo-wop turnaround, still everywhere in ballads.

How the key of G major works

G Major carries one sharp (F#). The scale runs G–A–B–C–D–E–F#, and stacking every other note of that scale builds the seven chords above — every chord tone comes from those same seven notes.

E Minor is the relative minor: identical key signature, identical seven chords. A song that treats Em — the vi chord here — as home base is in E minor, even though its chord inventory matches this page exactly.

The parallel minor, G Minor, keeps the same root but flattens the third, sixth, and seventh — its signature shifts to two flats (Bb and Eb). Borrowing chords across that line is where a lot of songwriting color comes from.

Keep practicing

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