Guitar Chords in Open G Tuning

Major Chords in Open G Tuning

As with any open guitar tuning, you can strum all the strings open to play the major chord of the tuning. Barre all the strings down at the same fret to play major chords up and down the fretboard of the guitar in open G tuning.

These major barre chords are moveable chord forms.

     G   A   B   C   D   E   F     
D|---0---2---4---5---7---9---10---|
B|---0---2---4---5---7---9---10---|
G|---0---2---4---5---7---9---10---|
D|---0---2---4---5---7---9---10---|
G|---0---2---4---5---7---9---10---|
D|---0---2---4---5---7---9---10---|

You can also play major barre chords leaving out the 6th string and using a barre chord on the 5th through 1st strings.

More Major Chord Forms in Open G Tuning

Minor Chords in Open G Tuning

To play minor chords in open G, play the flat third note of the chord which would be on the B string for open G.

These minor barre chords are also moveable chord forms.

     Am  Bm  Cm  Dm  Em  Fm   Gm    
D|---2---4---5---7---9---10---12---|
B|---1---3---4---6---8---9----11---|
G|---2---4---5---7---9---10---12---|
D|---2---4---5---7---9---10---12---|
G|---2---4---5---7---9---10---12---|
D|---2---4---5---7---9---10---12---|

More Minor Chord Forms in Open G Tuning

The I - IV - V Chord Progression in the key of G

In open G tuning, the I - IV - V chord progression is easy to find: open for the I chord, a single barre chord fretted at the 5th fret for the IV chord, and up a step with a barre chord on the 7th fret for the V chord. The same frets can be used in other open tunings for the same chord progression in the tuning's key.

      I   IV  V     
      G   C   D     
D|----0---5---7----|
B|----0---5---7----|
G|----0---5---7----|
D|----0---5---7----|
G|----0---5---7----|
D|----0---5---7----|

Chords in the key of G in open G tuning

These chords can be used to play different chord progressions.

     G   Am  Bm  C   D   Em  Fdim  
D|---0---2---4---5---7---9---9----|
B|---0---1---3---5---7---8---9----|
G|---0---2---4---5---7---9---10---|
D|---0---2---4---5---7---9---9----|
G|---0---2---4---5---7---9---10---|
D|---0---2---4---5---7---9--------|