
The G major chord is one of the first chords learned by most guitarists and it’s a go to in a huge number of songs.
But many guitarists only know how to play it one or two ways.
This post will show you 5 different ways to play the G chord on guitar.
G Chord Variation 1: Open G
This is the most common way to play a G major on guitar. You most probably already know this one but I will include it here for completeness.
The open G is played by:
- Placing your 1st finger (index finger) in the 2nd fret of the A string
- Placing your 2nd finger (middle finger) in the 3rd fret of the Low E string
- Placing your 3rd finger (ring finger) in the 3rd fret of the High e string

All strings are strummed when strumming this chord – so the D, G & B strings are played open.
There is a slight variation on this which is also very common. it’s the way I naturally play this chord.
- Placing your 1st finger (index finger) in the 2nd fret of the A string
- Placing your 2nd finger (middle finger) in the 3rd fret of the Low E string
- Placing your 3rd finger (ring finger) in the 3rd fret of the B string
- Placing your 4th finger (pinky) in the 3rd fret of the High e string
I find this has a slightly “fuller” sound to it.
G Chord Variation 2: Barre G
The next most common version of G major is the Barre chord.
The Barre G is played by barring the 3rd fret over all the strings with your 1st finger and creating the open E shape in the 4th & 5th frets. All the strings are strummed when strumming this chord.
If you aren’t sure about how to play barre chords check out the link below.
>>How to Play Major Barre Chords on Guitar
You can also play an “A String Barre G”. This is played by barring all but the Low E string in the 10th fret with your 1st finger and making the open A shape in the 12th fret.
Again, if you aren’t familiar with how to construct barre chords, see the link above.
G Chord Variation 3: Mid Fingerboard
This a good mid fingerboard option.
- Barre first finger across the G, B and high e-strings in the 7th fret
- Place the 2nd finger in the 8th fret on the B string
- Place the 3rd finger in the 9th fret on the D string
- Place the 4th finger in the 10th fret on the A string

Only strum from the A string down. Don’t strum the low E string.
Some people find it easier to use the 1st finger to barre from the A string down. This also allows you to use the tip of your index finger to mute the Low E string so you can strum more freely without worrying about hitting that Low E string.
G Chord Variation 4: Higher up the fretboard
This variation gives a G major chord option that is higher up the fretboard. It has a significantly different flavor to the Barre chord that you can play in this area of the fingerboard.
- Place your 1st finger on the 9th fret on the D string
- Place your 2nd finger on the 10th fret on the A string
- Place your 3rd finger on the 10th fret on the high E string

Strum all but the Low E string when you are strumming this.
G Chord Variation 5: High Up Fingerboard #2
This is nice easy one to finish and nice sounding (IMO). It also has a few nice variations to it, they still keep it a G major chord but can add something extra or it can be minimized when that’s more appropriate for the sound you’re looking for.
Technically this is a G with a D bass.
- Place the 1st finger in the 10th fret of the E string
- Place the 2nd finger in the 10th fret of the A string

Strum all but the high e string.
There are many variations you can bring into this one. The ones that I use are:
- Use 2nd & 3rd fingers in place of 1st and 2nd above and place the 1st finger in the 9th fret of the D string. Only strum down to the G string (or you can also strum the B string as well but I like this without the B string).
- Place your 3rd finger in the 10th fret of the high E string and now strum that string as well.
- & b. together
- Place 4th finger in 12 fret of the B string (strum all but high e string)
- Place your 3rd finger in the 10th fret of the high E string (like b. above) and your 4th finger in the 12th fret of the B string (like d. above), strum all strings
Thanks for Reading
I hope this post has given you some different options for playing the G major chord.
Do you have any other ways that you like to play G major? Feel free to leave a comment below.