Chords 04: G major

The fourth basic chord is G major. Add it to the C major, F majorandA minorwe have already learned, and we will be able to play quite a large number of songs – at least accompany them with chords. Compared with the first three chords, G major initially seems the most complicated, because the first time we try it we feel as though we have to tie our fingers into a small knot. It is also the first chord where three fingers fret three different strings. After the wonderfully comfortable C major and A minor, and the equally relaxed F major, G major may seem slightly unfriendly. Do not let that discourage you. If thousands of people around the world have learned it, then you, dear reader, will manage G major too .

To fret G major, leave the fourth – uppermost – string open. Press the third string at the second fret with the index finger, the second string at the third fret, and the first string at the second fret as well. It is almost like making a little triangle with the fingers. Try to visualise and memorise the chord shape that way. In numerical notation it is 0 2 3 2, and as a diagram it looks like this:

I dedicate this post with particular affection to two very kind colleagues whom I have infected with the ukulele bug and who became happy ukulele owners today .

So let us learn G major: