Music Theory for Guitar: G Major

Foundation: Almost everything in music is based around the major scale. You have to know it inside and out before moving on to
anything. Having good command of the major scale up and down the neck will give you the ability to play along with the vast
majority of music you hear today.

G Major Scale: G A B C D E F #
G Major Scale Position VII G Major Scale Position I
Starting Fret: I Starting Fret: II
G A B A B C
E E
D E F# E F# G
B B
A B C B C D
G G
E F# G F# G A
D D
B C D C D E
A A
F# G A G A B
E E
G Major Scale Position II G Major Scale Position III
Starting Fret: IV Starting Fret: VI
B C D C D E
E E
F# G A G A B
B B
C D E D E #
F
G G
G A B A B C
D D
D E # E # G
F F
A A
A B C B C D
E E
G Major Scale Position IV G Major Scale Position V
Starting Fret: VII Starting Fret: IX
D E F# E F# G
E E
A B C B C D
B B
E # G # G A
F F
G G
B C D C D E
D D
F# G A G A B
A A
C D E D E F#
E E
G Major Scale Position VI
Starting Fret: XI
F# G A
E
C D E
B
G A B
G
D E F#
D
A B C
A
E F# G
E
Triads: The first note of a chord is called the root. It is the name of the chord. The second note is called a 3rd, a third is a
distance of 3 (minor) or 4 (major) semitones away from the root note. A fifth is a distance of 7 semitones. Semitones can be half
steps or frets on the guitar. The root, 3rd, and 5th’s respective distances from each other determine what the triad name will be.
By using the ”Triad Quality” on the right hand side you can determine what Triad each degree will be. For instance, I (one) is a
major triad because from the Root to the Third is 4 Half Steps and from the Third to the Fifth is 3 Half Steps.

Major Scale Degrees Root Third Fifth Triad Triad Quality

I G B D G Root Major 3rd 3rd minor 3rd 5th
ii A C E Am Major 4 Half Steps 3 Half Steps
iii B D F# Bm Root Major 3rd 3rd minor 3rd 5th
IV C E G C Minor (m ) 3 Half Steps 4 Half Steps
V D F A D Root Major 3rd 3rd minor 3rd 5th
vi E G B Em Diminished (o ) 3 Half Steps 3 Half Steps
vii F# A C F#o Root Major 3rd 3rd minor 3rd 5th
+
VIII G B D G Augmented ( ) 4 Half Steps 4 Half Steps
Diatonic Triads: A Diatonic Triad is the term used for three note chords built upon each note of the Major Scale.
Note: The numbers in the top left denote fret position and squares represent Root notes. All of these chords are bar chords except
the last chord.

G Chord(Major Scale Degree: I) Am Chord(Major Scale Degree: ii) Bm Chord(Major Degree: iii)
II IV VI
G A B
E E E
D E F#
B B B
B C D
G G G
G A B
D D D
D E F#
A A A
G 1st A B
E E E
C Chord(Major Scale Degree : IV) D Chord(Major Scale Degree : V) Em Chord(Major Scale Degree: vi)
VII IX XI
C D E
E E E
G A B
B B B
E F# G
G G G
C D E
D D D
G A B
A A A
C D E
E E E
F # Diminished Chord(Major Scale Degree : vii)
I
F#
E
C
B
A
G

A
F#
E
Triad Inversions: On the guitar, use of inversions allows the player to be able to play some form of a given chord virtually
anywhere on the neck. Inversions are your friend! A chord is said to be in its root position when its root is the lowest note. A
three-note chord or triad may also stand in its first or second inversion. A chord stands in its first inversion when its third is the
lowest note. It is in second inversion when its fifth is the lowest note.
G B D
E
D G B
B
B D G
G

E
E
D G B
B
B D G
G
G B D
D

E
E

B
B D G
G
G B D
D
D G B
A

E
E

G
G B D
D
D G B
A
B D G
E