G Major Scale
The G major scale (also called G Ionian) contains G – A – B – C – D – E – F#. Its key signature has 1 sharp: F#.
| Note | G | A | B | C | D | E | F# | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
G major scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to C. Left hand, going up: finger 3 crosses over the thumb to E. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
G major has 1 sharp: F#. Its relative minor is E minor, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of G major and of E minor.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from G |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | 0 |
| 2 | A | 2 |
| 3 | B | 4 |
| 4 | C | 5 |
| 5 | D | 7 |
| 6 | E | 9 |
| 7 | F# | 11 |
Step pattern
The Major scale is built from the pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in G Major
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in G Major.
Other modes on G
More scales on G
Major scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the G Major scale?
The G Major scale contains G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, then returns to G an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the G major scale on piano?
Going up from G to G, the right hand plays 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 and the left hand plays 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many sharps are in G major?
G major has 1 sharp: F#.
What is the step pattern of the Major scale?
The Major scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the G Major scale?
The diatonic chords are G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em, F#dim. Each is built only from notes of the G Major scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.