G major chordson the Irish bouzouki, GDAE tuning

Main chords: G (I), C (IV), D (V)

The scale: G A B C D E F♯

Drones: Open G and D ring in G major; A and E fit the key too. The courses are G D A E, low to high.

Print it: G major on one page (PDF), or the session pack: the chord chart and a page for each session key.

Common progressions

• I – IV – I – V: G – C – G – D (a plain backing for many reels and jigs)
• I – V – I: G – D – G (polkas and simple tunes)
• I – vi – IV – V: G – Em – C – D (a B part that wanders, or a song)

Basis: DADGAD Guitar blog (2009), the Chiff & Fipple forum, and common session practice: most major-key tunes use I, IV and V; vi now and then.

The seven chords in G major

1. I G0 0 2 3
2. ii Am2 2 3 0
3. iii Bm4 0 2 2
4. IV C0 2 3 0
5. V Dx 0 0 2
6. vi Em0 2 2 0
7. vii° F♯dim2 4 3 2

Other modes on G

Other major keys

G major in other tunings

All Irish bouzouki GDAE chords · G major sheet (PDF) · Printable chart (PDF) · The app