G major scale
G major scale is G – A – B – C – D – E – F♯, with F♯. Formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Hit play and watch it light up on both instruments.
The notes, one step at a time
Counted in steps it goes W W H W W W H (W = whole step, H = half step). The half steps fall between B–C and F♯–G.
| Degree | Note | Interval from G | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | root | |
| 2 | A | major second | |
| 3 | B | major third | |
| 4 | C | perfect fourth | |
| 5 | D | perfect fifth | |
| 6 | E | major sixth | |
| 7 | F♯ | major seventh |
How the major scale sounds
A major scale sounds like "do re mi". Sing up from G and you have it; the half steps between the 3rd and 4th and the 7th and 8th notes are what make it sound finished at the top.
Listen for the leading tone F♯, a half step below G. Stop on it and the scale sounds unfinished until G comes back.
Compared with G natural minor scale, G major scale has B, E and F♯ where the other has B♭, E♭ and F; the other four notes are shared. Hear G natural minor scale and compare.
Where your hands go
Keyboard players: one black (F♯), six white.
On guitar the root sits at the 3rd fret of the low E string. The box above covers frets 1–7 and holds 17 notes of the scale across all six strings; play it low string to high.
The key of G major
Songs in G major are built from these notes, so the key signature has one sharp (F♯). The relative minor is E minor: same notes, starting on the 6th degree. The parallel minor, G natural minor, starts on the same note with different notes above it.
Chords and progressions in G major
Chords built on each note
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get 7 chords. These are the chords of the key. Tap to hear each one.
Same notes, different home: C Lydian (starting on the 4th note, C), D Mixolydian (starting on the 5th note, D), E natural minor (starting on the 6th note, E), F♯ Locrian (starting on the 7th note, F♯), A Dorian (starting on the 2nd note, A) and B Phrygian (starting on the 3rd note, B). Play any of them over a drone on its first note and the mood changes, even though the keys you press don't.
Finding G major on the neck
Anchor points for G: low E string fret 3 and 15, A string fret 10. Most guitarists learn it in five overlapping positions; on the low E string they begin around frets 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12. On guitar, learn the box from the 6th-string root first; the same fingering moves anywhere.
On the piano, G major scale uses 1 black key (F♯) and 6 white.
Try it in thirds to stop it sounding like an exercise: G–B, A–C, B–D, C–E, D–F♯, E–G, F♯–A, then back down.
Three ways to practise G major
Try these after the plain scale. Tap to hear each pattern at a steady speed, then play along.
- Three-note runs: G A B · A B C · B C D · C D E · D E F♯ · E F♯ G.
- Target F♯: G F♯ G F♯ G: the 7th, a half step under the root, pulls the ear home.
Scales to compare with G major
Major scale in every key
G major scale: questions
What are the notes of the G major scale?
G, A, B, C, D, E and F♯, then G again at the octave. Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.
How many sharps or flats are in the G major scale?
One: F♯. That matches the key signature of G major.
What chords are in the G major scale?
Stacking thirds on each note gives G (I), Am (ii), Bm (iii), C (IV), D (V), Em (vi) and F♯dim (vii°).
What's the difference between G major scale and G natural minor scale?
B, E and F♯ in G major; B♭, E♭ and F in the other. Everything else is the same.
Generated from the step pattern 2-2-1-2-2-2-1 and checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.