How to play G (G Major) on Ukulele
Diagram, notes, and audio for the G chord on ukulele. Free in your browser.
About G on ukulele
G major on the ukulele is a small triangle on the bottom three strings: middle finger on the 2nd fret of the C string, ring on the 3rd fret of the E, index on the 2nd fret of the A. The open G string acts as the bass note (the highest-sounding string in re-entrant tuning, but tonally the chord's root). The chord notes are G, B, D.
G is the I chord in G major and the V chord in C major — which is why G is one of the most-played chords on the ukulele after C. Beginner songbooks lean heavily on the I-IV-V triangle of C-F-G or G-C-D, and the open G shape is the keystone of those progressions. The chord requires three fingers but they sit close together, and the shape mirrors a guitar's open D major upside-down.
Iconic ukulele songs in G include I'm Yours by Jason Mraz, much of the Beach Boys' adapted ukulele repertoire, and many Hawaiian standards. The relative minor of G is E minor, sharing the same single sharp — F#. Practising the chord switch G → C — a one-fret move of the ring finger combined with lifting the index and middle — is a foundational rhythm-uke exercise.
Frequently asked questions
- Is G major hard on the ukulele?
- It's the first three-finger chord most beginners learn after one- and two-finger shapes. The fingers sit close together on adjacent strings, so it's quick to memorise but takes practice to switch cleanly.
- What three notes are in G major on ukulele?
- G, B, and D. On a standard ukulele the open G string provides the root note; the rest are fretted.
- What's the easiest way to switch from G to C?
- Drop your three fingers off the strings and place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string. The motion is forgiving because C uses one finger and G's three fingers all release at once.
Switch instruments
See G on a different instrument — same chord, new diagram.