G major chord on guitar (G)

G is G, B and D. The easiest shape is 3-2-0-0-0-3. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

3-2-0-0-0-3 · open · easy

Notes: G · B · D
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5
First shape: 3-2-0-0-0-3

How to play G on guitar

Shape 1, 3-2-0-0-0-3, reading from the low E string on the left:

Index finger: A string, 2nd fret (B).
Middle finger: low E string, 3rd fret (G).
Ring finger: high E string, 3rd fret (G).
Let the open D, G and B strings ring (D, G and B).

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.

Other ways to play G

3-5-5-4-3-3: barre shape at the 3rd fret, medium. Built on the E open shape with the barre as a movable nut; the root is on the 6th string.
x-10-12-12-12-10: barre shape at the 10th fret, medium. This is the open A shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.
x-10-9-7-8-7: partial barre shape at the 7th fret, medium. Higher up the neck it sounds brighter; handy when another guitar is already playing a lower shape.

Playing G with a capo

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 3rd fret and play the open E shape (0-2-2-1-0-0), capo on the 5th fret and play the open D shape (x-x-0-2-3-2) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open C shape (x-3-2-0-1-0). The chord sounds as G because the capo raises every string by 3 half steps.

Moving between G and its neighbours

These are the changes you'll meet most often with G, using the first shape of each chord.

C (IV in G major): G (3-2-0-0-0-3) to C (x-3-2-0-1-0): your index finger lands on the B string, 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the D string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Shared note: G. C on guitar
D (V in G major): G (3-2-0-0-0-3) to D (x-x-0-2-3-2): the index finger goes to the G string, 2nd fret, the middle finger goes to the high E string, 2nd fret, the ring finger slides across to the B string at the same fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. D carries over from one chord to the other. D on guitar
Em (vi in G major): G (3-2-0-0-0-3) to Em (0-2-2-0-0-0): your index finger stays put, the middle finger goes to the D string, 2nd fret. An easy one to get up to speed. The two chords share G and B, which is why the change sounds smooth. Em on guitar

G is a major triad: bright, settled and stable. Major chords are the backbone of most songs; G is home in G major and a common IV or V in the keys around it. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Practice G in two minutes

Arpeggiate 3-2-0-0-0-3 from the lowest string: G, B, D, G, B, G. Then strum it and listen for the same 6 notes together. Next, alternate 3-2-0-0-0-3 and 3-5-5-4-3-3, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Where G shows up

In G major, I–V–vi–IV on guitar is G (3-2-0-0-0-3), D (x-x-0-2-3-2), Em (0-2-2-0-0-0) and C (x-3-2-0-1-0). About the pop progression.

In G major, I–IV–V on guitar is G (3-2-0-0-0-3), C (x-3-2-0-1-0) and D (x-x-0-2-3-2). About the three-chord progression.

In G major, I–vi–IV–V on guitar is G (3-2-0-0-0-3), Em (0-2-2-0-0-0), C (x-3-2-0-1-0) and D (x-x-0-2-3-2). About the 50s progression.

G on piano and ukulele

G on piano and ukulele uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Related G chords on guitar

Other major chords

G on guitar: questions

What notes are in G on guitar?

G, B and D. In the 3-2-0-0-0-3 shape the strings play G (low E string), B (A string), D (D string, open), G (G string, open), B (B string, open) and G (high E string), so G and B are doubled.

What's the easiest way to play G on guitar?

3-2-0-0-0-3, the first shape on this page. Open strings do part of the work, so no barre.

Is G a barre chord on guitar?

Not usually: 3-2-0-0-0-3 needs no barre. The barre versions come later, higher on the neck.

Which string does G start on?

In the 3-2-0-0-0-3 shape the lowest string you play is the low E string at the 3rd fret, which is G, the root.

Every shape above plays only G, B and D, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.