Piano chord · Triads
G major chord on piano
Right hand: G (1), B (3), D (5)
How to play G on piano: the keys to press, which fingers to use, inversions and how it’s written on the staff.
Bright, stable and resolved — the foundation of most songs.
G is the I chord in G major, IV in D major and V in C major. In minor keys: III in E minor, V in C minor, VI in B minor and VII in A minor.
- Notes
- GBD
- Formula
- 135
- Built from
- root · major 3rd · perfect 5th
Piano
Root position · numbers are finger numbers
How to play it
Right handG1 · thumbB3 · middleD5 · pinky
Left handG5 · pinkythe root, an octave lower
Finger numbers: 1 thumb · 2 index · 3 middle · 4 ring · 5 pinky. Inversions use the same notes with a different one on the bottom — they help you move smoothly between chords. Tap any key to hear it.
Tips for playing G on piano
All white keys: G, B, D — the same 1-3-5 shape as C and F.
You’ll find G in common progressions such as G–D–Em–C (the pop progression in G major), G–C–D–C (three-chord rock in G major) and G–Em–C–D (the ’50s progression in G major).
Learning piano? G is part of stage 1 (“C, F and G”) of our first piano chords path.
