G Major Piano Chord
Root
G3rd
B5th
DE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
G
B
D
The Notes in a G Major Chord
The Root
The root is the bottom note of the chord, the starting point to which the other notes relate. The root of a G Major chord is G.
The 3rd
The third of a G Major chord is B. The third is up four half-steps from the Root.
Finding B from G step by step:
- Start on: G
- Step 1: move up to Ab
- Step 2: move up to A
- Step 3: move up to Bb
- Step 4: Land on B
3rd
BRoot
G1
2
3
- Ab is a minor second above G.
- A is a major 2nd above G.
- Bb is a minor third above G.
- B is a major third above G.
The 5th
The fifth of a G Major chord is D. The fifth is down five half-steps from the Root.
Finding D from G step by step:
- Start on: G
- Step 1: move down to F#
- Step 2: move down to F
- Step 3: move down to E
- Step 4: move down to Eb
- Step 5: Land on D
5th
DRoot
G1
2
3
4
- F# is a minor second below G.
- F is a major 2nd below G.
- E is a minor third below G.
- Eb is a major third below G.
- D is a fourth below G. The 5th is down a fourth? Confusing, right? The note D is down 5 half-steps from G, but up 7 half-steps from G:
5th
DRoot
G1
2
3
4
5
6
The Inversions of G Major
Root Position
Root
G3rd
B5th
DE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
G
B
D
1st Inversion
3rd
B5th
DRoot
GE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
B
D
G
2nd Inversion
5th
DRoot
G3rd
BE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
D
G
B
