The intervals of G Major are whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. The relative minor for G Major is E minor. Try playing this scale using the E note as the root over a chord progression in the key of e minor.
Table of Contents
G Major Guitar Scale 1st Position
This open position G major scale is simple to play, and you’ll utilize almost all of the open strings when playing it. To have the scale sound complete, start on the g note. Note the half steps in this scale, the B to C and F# to G notes.
G Major Guitar Scale 2nd Position
Second position uses a major scale pattern that you will see repeated all over the fretboard while you are learning scales. By now you notice this scale is the same as C major except for the F# instead of F. The fingerings are even the same in certain positions on the neck.
G Major Guitar Scale 3rd Position
Third position is referred to as the transition pattern. It sort of sits right between two root notes on the guitar. Advanced guitarists use this position as a gateway to getting up and down the neck when playing.
G Major Guitar Scale 4th Position
By now you are seeing some similar finger patterns.
Guitar Chord Progressions in G Major
Here are a few chord progressions to jam along with in G Major.
- G, C, D (I – IV – V)
- G, Em, C, D (I – vi – IV – V)
- Am7, D7, Gmaj7 (ii – V – I)
Practice Tips
- Find a jam track or drone on youtube in the key of G major to practice and learn these scales. You will find it is infinitely more fun to play along to something rather than sit and play scales by yourself.
- Use a metronome and work your way up to 140 bpm playing quarter notes of the g scale.
- Create different patterns for yourself while ascending and descending the scale. For example, G, A, B, C – A, B, C, D – B, C, D, E – C, D, E, F# and so on.
- Teach the G major scale to someone else. If you can explain it, you know it.
- Learn to play all of the notes of the G major scale on one string only.
