G major scale
The G major scale is G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G. It has 1 sharp (F♯), its relative minor is E minor, and the standard piano fingering is 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 in the right hand and 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 in the left hand.
G major scale notes
The G major scale has seven notes before the tonic repeats: G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G. One of the seven is a black key on the piano (F♯); the other six are white keys.
The step pattern is W W H W W W H (W = whole step, H = half step). The half steps fall between B and C and F♯ and G.
| Degree | Name | Note | Solfège (movable do) | Piano key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | G | do | White |
| 2 | Supertonic | A | re | White |
| 3 | Mediant | B | mi | White |
| 4 | Subdominant | C | fa | White |
| 5 | Dominant | D | sol | White |
| 6 | Submediant | E | la | White |
| 7 | Leading tone | F♯ | ti | Black |
G major key signature
The G major key signature has 1 sharp: F♯, written at the start of every line. Sharps are always added in the order F, C, G, D, A, E, B. E minor shares this signature.
On the treble staff, the sharp, F♯, sits on the fifth line from the bottom.
Shortcut: the last sharp, F♯, is one half step below the major tonic (G).
G major scale fingering
| Hand | Notes (ascending) | Fingers |
|---|---|---|
| Right hand | G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G | 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 |
| Left hand | G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G | 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 |
Right hand going up: B (finger 3) to C (finger 1), the thumb passes under. Left hand going up: D (finger 1) to E (finger 3), the finger passes over the thumb. Fingers are numbered 1 (thumb) to 5 (little finger) in both hands.
The thumb stays on white keys in both hands; the black keys go to the longer fingers. For two octaves and the descending pattern, open the free piano scale fingering tool linked below.
Chords in G major
Building a triad on each note of the scale gives the seven chords of G major. The primary chords are G (I), C (IV) and D (V).
| Degree | Triad | Notes | Seventh chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | G | G B D | Gmaj7 | G B D F♯ |
| ii | Am | A C E | Am7 | A C E G |
| iii | Bm | B D F♯ | Bm7 | B D F♯ A |
| IV | C | C E G | Cmaj7 | C E G B |
| V | D | D F♯ A | D7 | D F♯ A C |
| vi | Em | E G B | Em7 | E G B D |
| vii° | F♯° | F♯ A C | F♯m7♭5 | F♯ A C E |
One of the most common progressions in pop music, I V vi IV, is G, D, Em, C in G major. A ii V I cadence is Am7, D7, Gmaj7.
Reading G major on the staff
G major is the first sharp key on the circle of fifths. Its only black key is F sharp, the seventh note, so the one note to remember when reading is that every F is played as F sharp unless a natural sign says otherwise.
On the treble staff, G4 to G5 needs no ledger lines. On the bass staff, G3 to G4 needs 3 ledger lines above the staff. Because of those ledger lines, left hand parts in this key are often written an octave lower, from G2.
The reading trap in G major is the key signature: the sharps are written once at the start of the line, not next to the notes. Before you play, say the altered notes out loud (F♯), then check every F on the page.
How to practise the G major scale
- Say the notes before you play them: G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G.
- Play hands separately, one octave, at a slow steady pulse (60 beats per minute, one note per beat), using 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 in the right hand and 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 in the left.
- Stop on each thumb crossing and check the next finger is already over its key before you move.
- Add the descending scale with the same fingers in reverse, then go to two octaves.
- Put the hands together only when each hand can play it three times in a row without a stop, then raise the tempo by about 8 beats per minute at a time.
- Finish with the primary chords: G (G B D), C (C E G) and D (D F♯ A).
Clef, our iPhone and iPad app, drills major scales, triads and arpeggios with its on-screen controls or a connected MIDI keyboard, then brings each one back on a spaced schedule so it stays learned.
Keys related to G major
- E minor scale: relative minor, same key signature
- G minor scale: parallel minor, same tonic
- D major scale: a fifth above, 2 sharps
- C major scale: a fifth below, no sharps or flats
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the G major scale?
The G major scale is G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G, then G again an octave higher.
How many sharps are in G major?
G major has 1 sharp: F♯.
What is the relative minor of G major?
E minor. It uses the same key signature and the same notes, starting on E.
What chords are in G major?
G (I), Am (ii), Bm (iii), C (IV), D (V), Em (vi), F♯° (vii°).
What is the fingering for the G major scale on piano?
Right hand 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 going up from G; left hand 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 going up. Reverse the numbers to come down.