G piano chord — the keys, the inversions, the theory

G is a major chord built from G, B, D. Below: the keys to press, every inversion with its own diagram, the intervals it is made of, the keys whose scale contains it, and a progression that actually uses it. Press any diagram to hear it.

G

G · B · D

Piano keyboardC4C5

Semitones above the root: 0 – 4 – 7

A major third at the bottom is what makes this bright and settled.

Inversions of G

  • Root position

    G · B · D · bass G

  • Inversion 1

    B · D · G · bass B

  • Inversion 2

    D · G · B · bass D

Same chord, different note at the bottom. Press a diagram to hear it — inversions are how you move between chords without jumping your hand across the keyboard.

Keys that contain G

  • CV
  • GI
  • DIV

In C it does this job: I – V – vi – IV

  1. C
  2. G
  3. Am
  4. F

Questions