Julie Swihart

Chords for Major Keys

Let’s find all the chords belonging to the key of G major. The chords in the key of G are used to play songs in the key of G.

How to Find the Chords for G Major

To find the chords for the key of G major, we first need to build a G major scale. You can learn how to build a G major scale here.

The notes of a G major scale are:

G – A – B – C – D – E – F♯ – G

Now we’ll build a three-note chord off each note of the scale, counting “1 – 3 – 5” to build each chord. We’ll use the notes of the scale to build the chords.

To build the first, chord, we’ll start on a G, and count “1 – 3 – 5”, using the notes of the scale to build the chord. This gives us: G – B – D.

To find the next chord, we’ll start on A, and count “1 – 3 – 5”, using the notes of the scale to build the chord. This gives us: A – C – E.

Then we’ll start on B, and using the notes of the scale, we’ll count “1 – 3 – 5”, to get our third chord: B – D – F♯.

We can continue this pattern of building three-note chords off each note of the G major scale, using the notes of the scale to build the chords.

Chords for Major Keys Printable

This 20-page PDF will help you learn the chords for every major key! Use these chords to build chord progressions and play creatively.

Get the Printable

Chords for G Major

Here are the chords for the key of G:

G – B – D = G major chord

A – C – E = A minor chord

B – D – F♯ = B minor chord

C – E – G = C major chord

D – F♯ – A = D major chord

E – G – B = E minor chord

F♯ – A – C = F♯ diminished chord

Other Major Key Chords

You can find chords for the other major keys below:

C Major Chords
D Major Chords
A Major Chords
E Major Chords
B Major Chords
F Sharp Major Chords
C Sharp Major Chords
F Major Chords
B Flat Major Chords
E Flat Major Chords
A Flat Major Chords
D Flat Major Chords
G Flat Major Chords
C Flat Major Chords

Labeling the Chords

You may have noticed that the chords we found in the key of G major were either major, minor or diminished. In order to understand these different kinds of “1 – 3 – 5” chords, you’ll want to read this post on piano intervals.

To summarize, there are four types of “1 – 3 – 5” chords (also called “triads”):
Major
Minor
Augmented
Diminished

A major chord is built using the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale.

A minor chord is a major chord with the middle note lowered 1/2 step.

An augmented chord is a major chord with the upper note raised 1/2 step.

A diminished chord is a minor chord with the upper note lowered 1/2 step.

When we build a triad off each note of a major scale, using the notes of the scale to build the chords, we’ll always get these chords in this order:

Major
Minor
Minor
Major
Major
Minor
Diminished

Once you know this pattern, you can use it to help you identify the chords belonging to other major keys!

Primary Chords for G Major

Each major key has three “primary” chords, built off the first, fourth and fifth notes of the major scale.

For the key of G major, this means the three primary chords are:

G major
C major
D major

These three chords will show up a lot in songs written in the key of G major, and you’ll probably use them often when creating chord progressions in this key.

Conclusion

Now you know how to find the chords for G major on the piano, and you can use that knowledge to help you build and identify the chords belonging to other major keys! Have fun!