Playing G major chord with only 2 fingers
Lesson #83 • Jul 14, 2017
Video Overview
Instructional PDF 1 page
Editor’s notes
In this quick practice tip, I’ll teach you how to play the G-chord using only two fingers! I’ll explain why this is easier to do than a normal G, and show you how it frees up your other fingers to play cool flourish notes. This can be used anytime you have to play a G-chord, and is something I use quite a bit. I’m excited to show it to you today.
Normal ways to play G
First, let’s review the common voicings for the G-major chord, that you’ll often see when learning guitar. Here’s the typical way the G-major chord is taught, where you have 3 left-hand fingers fretted. This can be played with these two different finger positions:
e –––3––– <== left pinky e –––3––– <== left ring or pinky
B –––0––– B –––0–––
G –––0––– G –––0–––
D –––0––– D –––0–––
A –––2––– <== left middle A –––2––– <== left index
E –––3––– <== left ring E –––3––– <== left middle
You can can play this “4 finger” version of the G major chord, which looks like this. The 3rd fret on the second string (i.e. the B string) gives us a “D” note, which is the 5th tone in the G-major scale. Without that finger, the “open” second string gives us the “B” note, which is the 3rd tone in the G-major scale. Remember, a G-major chord is simply composed of the 1-3-5 notes in the G major scale… so both of these voicings are valid ways to play G chord!
e –––3––– <== left pinky
B –––3––– <== left ring
G –––0–––
D –––0–––
A –––2––– <== left index
E –––3––– <== left middle
The 2 finger “easy” version
Here’s the easier way to play G, that I show in my video above. This only uses two fingers, and in my opinion is far easier to switch to once you get used to it. It also frees up your left middle and left index fingers for flourish notes, as I show in my video.
e –––3––– <== left pinky
B –––0–––
G –––0–––
D –––0–––
A –––x––– <== muted with left ring (lightly touch the string, don't push it down)
E –––3––– <== left ring
When to use which voicing of G?
Fortunately, I have a separate lesson explaining how you might think about “when” to use the different voicings I show above. It’s all based on context, and the other chords you’re playing. The goal is to set yourself up for easy chord switches, which I explain in this video:
Enjoy my lessons? Buy me a beer!
If this and my other lessons have proven helpful to you, please consider making a one-time donation to my tip jar. Contributions of any amount help make this project possible (including the many, many hours I put into it).
Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!
Recent Lessons
-
September 25, 2023
Major Key Cheat Sheets: Must-Know Chords, Scales, and Fretboard Diagrams
-
September 15, 2023
"Stuff That Works" by Guy Clark
-
September 11, 2023
Monday Morning Triad Practice! (Key of A Major)
-
September 8, 2023
"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison
-
September 1, 2023
Practicing Major Arpeggios in Each CAGED Shape
-
August 31, 2023
Travel Guitar... Worth It, or a Waste? (Taylor GS Mini review, 3 years later)
-
August 29, 2023
Creating a Fingstyle Arrangement from Scratch (feat. Graceland by Paul Simon)
-
August 18, 2023
"Bouncing Around the Room" by Phish
-
August 17, 2023
Simple Way to Travis Pick Any Song (Key of C)
-
August 12, 2023
"Summertime Blues" by Zach Bryan