Learning new chords is a great way to add some excitement to your practice routine. Today we’ll be looking at one of the less frequently used guitar chords out there: G sharp major. The G sharp guitar chord takes the popular G major chord and raises it by a half step.
What’s a G Sharp Guitar Chord?
The G sharp chord, often written as G#, is a half-step above a G major chord. It includes the notes G# (root note), C, and D#.
How to Play G Sharp Major
There are a few different ways to play G#. We’ll show you three major ones: a root 6 barre chord, root 5 barre chord, and a stripped-down “basic” version.
Method 1: Root 6 Barre Chord
Root 6 barre notes are named because their root notes are on the sixth string. They rely on the E major chord shape. And if you’re familiar with scales and root notes, you might notice that this is a G major chord shifted up one fret. Here’s how to play this version:
- Barre your first finger across all six strings at the fourth fret.
- Place your middle finger on the third string at the fifth fret.
- Place your ring finger on the fifth string at the sixth fret.
- Place your pinky finger on the fourth string at the sixth fret.
Method 2: Root 5 Barre Chord
Root 5 barre chords are so named because their root notes are on the fifth string. They rely on the A major chord shape. Here’s how to play this version of G sharp major:
- Barre your first finger across strings 1-5 at the eleventh fret.
- Place your middle finger on the fourth string at the thirteenth fret.
- Place your ring finger on the third string at the thirteenth fret.
- Place your pinky on the second string at the thirteenth fret.
- Mute or skip the sixth string.
Method 3: The Basic Version
This is a great way to play the G sharp major chord if you aren’t ready to play barre chords. After all, barring chords poses a real challenge to both beginners and anyone with hand or finger issues. There is a slight barre involved, but it’s just the first two strings. Here’s how to play it:
- Barre your first finger across the first and second strings at the fourth fret.
- Place your middle finger on the third string at the fifth fret.
- Place your ring finger on the fourth string at the sixth fret.
- Mute or skip the fifth and sixth strings.
Expanding Your Horizons
Now that you know how to play G sharp on guitar, you can start adding the G# guitar chord to your chord progression and your practice routine. Learning new chords can be a challenge, but it’s a great way to expand your abilities and your confidence as a guitarist.
FAQs
Still have some questions on playing the G# chord? Here are some answers.
The G sharp major chord is a half-step above a G chord. It’s in between G major and A major. Depending on what key it’s played in, it can also be called A flat (Ab). Whether you’re playing G# or Ab, you’re playing the same chord.
In a chord progression, G# goes well with C#, Cm, D#, Fm, and A#m. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with playing it with other chords — let your ear be your guide!
