In this article you will learn about the common G chord on the guitar.
We use G chord as the symbol for the G major triad chord, according to music theory nomenclature.
This G chord is a thee note diatonic chord, also known as a triad, created from the harmonic field of the G major or E minor scale.
In the E minor key, this chord if the third chord of the harmonic field. Then, in the E minor key, this chord has no dominant function.
In the G major key, this is the tonic chord chord, with tonic function, when using the major scale.
Also, in the D major key, the G chord is also the forth degree of the major scale, with subdominant function.
To learn this topic and an even more interesting list of chords, you can take a look at this great online course, that I have been recommending to my guitar students. For a very inexpensive introductory price, you’ll learn all this and much more.
Configurations of the G Chord on the Guitar
Depending on the hand position on the guitar neck, you can play the G chord on the guitar in many positions. See how you can do this in the diagrams below.
The first and most common position is the open position, with root on the 6th string:
-|--|--|o-|- G o|--|--|--|- B o|--|--|--|- G o|--|--|--|- D -|--|o-|--|- B -|--|--|o-|- G
Another possibility for this chord is also with the root on the 6th string, but now using a barre chord:
-|o-|--|--|- G -|o-|--|--|- D -|--|o-|--|- B -|--|--|o-|- G -|--|--|o-|- D -|o-|--|--|- G 3nd fret
Also, another position that may be used for this chord is with the key note in the 4th string, 5th fret:
-|--|--|o-|- -|--|--|--|o -|--|--|o-|- -|o-|--|--|- x|--|--|--|- x|--|--|--|- 5th fret
The G chord is very common in several genres such as pop music and rock, and because of this you can find it in many songs.
To improve your skills, you should learn to use the G chord in several contexts. You should also try to understand the way to apply this chord to different keys.
For example, in the C minor key, the G chord is the dominant triad.
In the C major key, the G is also the dominant triad.
Learn Even More About Guitar Chords
I have developed a free, complete guitar course teaching this and many more other chords. To get this course (in PDF format) sent to your email box, just request your copy!