G Major Scale Guitar

After the C major scale, arguably the next most important major scale to learn in music theory is the G major scale. There are a couple of reasons the G major scale guitar will remain one of the essential music scales to learn. One reason is its simplicity, as it has only one note from the C major scale changed/altered. This means that the G major scale is as simple as the C major scale, only that it has one note altered – the rest of the notes remain the same, although ordered differently. See also, Guitar String Notes for a more detailed overview.

Another vital thing to note is that the note G comes after the note C on the circle of fifth.

It is also widely used in popular songs today.  Knowing the scale and the notes in the scale will help play along with some of your favorite songs.  The G major scale also becomes quite handy in actual playing scenarios because many singers sing in the key of G, and a lot of music pieces are written in the key of G.

The G major scale is a fun and essential scale to learn in music. This article will introduce you to the G major scale.

G Major Scale

The G major scale, which also is referred to as the key of G, is a major scale based on the note G. The pitches (notes) in the G major scale are G, A, B, C, D, E, and F#. Although we are yet to talk about key signatures, it is important to know that the key signature of G major has only one sharp, and that is F#.

Unlike the C major with no sharp and flat, the G major scale has a single sharp note. A simple finger counting will reveal that the note E is a sixth above the note G.  The relative minor scale of the G major is E minor.

When you are counting, you will see that there are seven different musical notes in the scale. But these notes become eight when you repeat the first note at the end of the scale (octave).

Root Note of G Major Scale Guitar

Remember that whenever the G major scale or any other scale is played, the first (root) note is always repeated at the end of the scale, although one octave higher. With the G major, the repeated note is G.

Whenever we repeat the root note this way at the octave, we musically summarize or “round off” the scale to make it sound complete. However, it would sound somewhat incomplete and unsettling if we stopped the scale on the F# note.

By checking it out yourself, you would notice that if it ended on F#, the scale would sound like it is hanging in mid-air. Therefore, it becomes necessary to include the final G note in both illustrations and actual play, depending on the situation.

G Scale Chart

The charts shown below show the position of each note within the G major scale and the notes.

Looking at this scale closely, you will spot a familiar scale pattern that repeats itself on every major scale. The pattern is:

Whole, whole, half; whole, whole, whole, half

(W – W – H – W – W – W – H)

• The interval between G and A is a whole-step
• The interval between A and B is a whole-step
• The interval between B and C is a half-step
• The interval between C and D is a whole-step
• The interval between D and E is a whole-step
• The interval between E and F♯ is a whole-step
• The interval between F♯ and G is a half-step

Scale Degree Names Explained

• The 1st note–The tonic.
• The 2nd note–The supertonic
• The 3rd note–The mediant.
• The 4th note–The subdominant.
• The 5th note – The dominant.
• The 6th note–The submediant.
• The 7th note–The leading note.

Remember that all musical scales are infinite, which means that they keep going on and on without an end in both directions (the higher and lower pitches). The illustrations above show the scale in just one octave. However, remember that this same pattern repeats itself across the entire piano keyboard.

G Major scale Patterns – Fingering the G Major Scale on the Guitar

Pattern 1

We start with the first pattern on the scale.  The root note is on the third fret of the sixth string (E). So the scale starts on the root note, which is G.  Play through the pattern one major scale by starting with your second finger on the G, and then your fourth finger on the A (sixth string, fifth fret).

Move up the scale by placing your first finger on the fifth string (A), second fret and your second finger on the fifth string, third fret, and then your fourth finger on the fifth string, fifth fret.   Follow the tab below and play up the scale and then back down.

Take your time working through the scale, paying attention to the notes and the fingering.  I usually have students say the notes out loud as they play through the G major scale on their guitar.  Don’t be discouraged if it is not easy at first.  You need to continue to practice every day, and you will get it – I promise.

Pattern 2

Once you are comfortable moving through the first pattern, move on to the second pattern of the scale.  Take the time to learn the first pattern and develop the muscle memory playing up and down the scale.  After that, understand the connection between the first and second patterns.  The second pattern connects to the first pattern on the fourth fret.  This is an important part of understanding the scales as you move up and down the neck of the Guitar.

Pattern 2 is an easy pattern to learn.  The key to pattern two is to remember that you are hitting all of the notes on the fifth fret and seventh fret and then adding the eighth fret on the first, second, and sixth strings and adding the fourth fret on the third and fourth strings.  I have seen guitar players play their licks in the key of G just on the fifth and seventh fret – and it sounds excellent!

The root note is on the fourth string, the fifth fret (in red below), and the second string eighth fret (in red below).

Take your time working through the scale, paying attention to the notes and the fingering. Work your way up and down the pattern, and then add the first pattern to your practice routine.  The key is practice, practice, practice!

Pattern 3

Time to move on to the third pattern of the scale – once you are comfortable with the first and second patterns.  Be sure to learn the first and second patterns before moving on to the third pattern.  Look at the connection between the first, second, and third patterns and understand where the root note is within it.

The fingering for pattern three begins on the seventh fret.  Place your first finger on the sixth string, the seventh fret, then your second finger on the sixth string eighth fret, and then your fourth finger on the sixth string, the tenth fret. Notice that the pattern is the same on the sixth string, second string, and first string.  This makes it easy to memorize. I have students work on those three patterns and then add the fifth, fourth, and third-string patterns.  Once you get those patterns down, work up and down the scale in the third pattern.

The root note will always be in the same pattern position no matter what key you are playing in.  The root note in the G Major scale for the third pattern is on the fifth string tenth fret and the second string, eighth fret.

Pattern 4

Are you ready? Let’s move on to the fourth pattern of the G major scale guitar.  You should be comfortable with the first three patterns by now.  If you are working on these patterns for 30 to 60 minutes each day, you will get good at them!

Look at the connection between the first, second, and third patterns and understand where the root note is within each pattern.  The key to learning how to navigate the guitar neck is knowing where the root note position is in each pattern. As you will start to notice, the position of the root note within the pattern will always be the same!

The fourth pattern connects to the third pattern on the ninth fret.  The root note is on the fifth string, 12th fret, and the third-string 14^th fret.

This pattern appears to be complicated. You will start on the ninth fret and end on the thirteenth fret, which plays over five frets. You will be leaving your first finger off on the sixth string and sliding it up one fret on the second string.  Just practice the scale up and down, and you will get it.

Pattern 5

We are starting to get way up there on the neck of the Guitar. If you are practicing with an acoustic guitar that does not have a cutaway, you may have trouble moving on with this pattern – which is OK. However, working with a guitar with a cutaway that allows more access to the higher notes on the fretboard will make it much easier to work with this pattern.

The pattern starts on the 11^th fret and extends to the 16^th fret.  The root notes are on the 14th fret of the third string and both E strings on the seventeenth fret.  Notice the notes of the octave in this pattern.

If you begin the scale on the first and second frets, the root notes are on the third string second fret, and both E strings on the fifth fret.  This pattern is much easier to work within the A scale.

Solfege Syllables And System

“Solfege” is a music notational system that assigns specific syllables to each musical scale degree, in order for us to be able to sing the notes of that scale and learn the special sound of each one of those notes. The solfege system has proven to be such a powerful learning tool in aural perception (ear training).