UPDATED
14 Sep 2011
Key Signatures - G Major and E Minor
Sometimes called the "People's Key", is one of the most frequently-employed keys across classical and popular music.
PUBLISHED: 12 Sep 2011 UPDATED: 14 Sep 2011 • LESSON CODE: UL45 •
Topic: Theory ukulele Subjects: beginner • intermediate • advanced • theory • reading
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Key Signatures - G Major and E Minor
G major (or the key of G) is a major scale based on G, with the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F#. Its key signature has one sharp, F#.
Its relative minor is E minor, and its parallel minor is G minor.
G major, sometimes called the "people's key", is one of the most frequently-employed keys across classical and popular music. This is in part because of its relative ease of playing on both keyboard and string instruments: its scale comprises only one black note on the keyboard, all of a guitar’s six strings can be played open in G, half of the strings on the mandolin and violin/fiddle are in the G chord when open, and the banjo is usually tuned to open G. It is the key stipulated by Queen Elizabeth II to be used for “God Save the Queen” in Canada. The music to the American national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, was originally written in G major. Though it is now usually sung in A-flat or B-flat major, some people, most notably humorist and commentator Garrison Keillor, are campaigning to return the song to its original key; they argue that the song is already very difficult to sing on account of its range (one and a half octaves), and the modern standard key makes it still more difficult.
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Related Lessons for Key Signatures - G Major and E Minor.
Primary Chords - G Major • Updated: 15 Feb 2013
<p>The primary chords for any major key are the <b>I</b>, <b>IV</b> and <b>V</b> chords of its corresponding major scale. For G Major the primary chords are: <b>G</b>, <b>C</b>, <b>D</b> and <b>D7</b></p> <p>From the primary and secondary chords of a major key countless songs and chords progressions can be played.</p>
Secondary Chords - G Major • Updated: 25 Oct 2021
The secondary chords for any major key are the II, III and VI chords of it’s corresponding major scale. For G Major the secondary chords are: Am, Bm and Em. From the primary and secondary chords of a major key countless songs and chords progressions can be played.
Basic Blues Progressions in G Major • Updated: 10 Apr 2020
Basic and Quick Change blues chord progressions in the key of G major using the core 7th chords from the Big Six series of lessons. This is great way to explore this core chord in various keys. These are the two most common blues progressions used in traditional and contemporary music.
Related Books
Related Books for Key Signatures - G Major and E Minor.
Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
Updated: Jun 10, 2021
Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
Related Lesson Files, Resources and Assets
Related Assets for Key Signatures - G Major and E Minor.
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