Learn How to Play the G Ukulele Chord – Including Variations - My First Ukulele (2024)

If you ask expert musicians, the G ukulele chord is arguably one of the most useful, yet it’s not the easiest one in terms of finger positions. This article explains how to play it and gives you a couple of variations to try if you still struggle to get it right.

Written by Jay Searle / Published August 11, 2022

Last updated: March 29, 2024

Chord diagrams for the G ukulele chord with suggested fingerings and variations are shown below:

The G Major chord is one of the most useful ukulele chords you will learn as a beginner. Made up of just three notes from the G Major scale, it isn’t too complicated.

So, let’s put that G Major under a microscope and find out where it comes from, and what our fingers need to do to play it.

What Notes Are in the G Major Ukulele Chord?

The G Major chord is made up of three notes, namely G, B, and D. These notes are taken from the G Major scale. They are the first, third, and fifth notes of the scale and together they make up the major triad. Because the major triad has that major third, it has the characteristic “happy” major sound.

This set of notes can be combined in a number of ways on the ukulele, each of which has a slightly different sound and playability.

How Do You Play a G Ukulele Chord?

There are several different ways to play the G major. Some of these could feel like they are tripping you up as a beginner. Don’t worry about it though, your muscles are smart. Practice will get you there.

The first way to play the G Major is in open position. This means that you make use of open strings that are not necessarily pressed down on the fretboard.

So, let’s have a look at G Major in open position then. A Ukulele’s tuning is usually G (4^th string), C (3^rd string), E (2^nd string) and A on the 1^st string. Keep a close eye on which fingers go where.

Next, we’ll look at playing the G Major chord in different positions of the ukulele. As we move up the fretboard, the order in which we play the notes will change, giving the chord a slightly different sound depending on which note is in the bass.

It’s important to note that we are still playing the same notes – that is G, B, and D – just in different orders on the strings.

We’ll show you a few different variations for playing G Major, but this list is not at all exhaustive. Once you know your way around the fretboard, it’s possible to come up with your own shapes and fingerings for any chord!

G Ukulele Chord Variation No.1

This one might feel a little tricky for some players. Just take it slowly and you will get your fingers around it. Barring three strings with your ring finger can feel uncomfortable at first, but focus on getting the notes to ring out cleanly, without accidental muting from those barred notes.

Note that the first finger plays the D note on the 5th fret. If barring your third finger across the other strings is too difficult, you can try using your pinky, middle finger and index finger to play the E, C and G strings respectively (shown below).

G Ukulele Chord Variation No. 2

The third way to play the G Major chord will feel a little less fiddly than the barring in the previous variation. Though it still involves barring with one finger to cover multiple strings.

In this version, we use our index finger at the 7th fret to barre across all four strings (we’re playing D, G B on strings 4, 3 and 2 respectively). We then take our pinky finger and play the note on the 10th fret on the 1st string (which happens to be a G).

Don’t worry so much about the note on the 7th fret on the 1st string as shown in the chord diagram below as the pinky will be playing the sounded note.

What is important is to ensure even pressure across the barred strings to ensure that each note rings out with no discernible “buzzing”. This can be tricky at first until you build up your finger strength, but once you do, you’ll find it to be a really easy technique to play a lot of chords.

To start with though, keep experimenting with the different positions to find one that’s easiest for you.

How to Play the G Baritone Ukulele Chord

Let’s not forget our baritone friends. The baritone is tuned d-G-B-E. That means that in order to play the G major chord (G–B–D) you will have to change where your fingers fret the notes.

Have as look at the diagram below to see how to play the G Major in open position on the baritone ukulele.

The G Major fingering is really straightforward for baritone ukulele. To see the chord in action though, look at Bernadette Teaches Music’s video “How to play G Chord on Baritone Uke” and you will be flying around the fretboard in no time.

What Songs Use the G Ukulele Chord?

There are so many songs that make use of the G Major chord that listing them would have us sitting here for years.

The good news though, is that Corey Teaches Music has done a great video that teaches you “10 songs you only need 3 chords for” G major is one of those chords, and the tunes you can learn include Dreams by Fleetwood Mac and Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. Check it out below:

Getting started on the ukulele is not as difficult as it seems. With a handful of chords and some enthusiasm, you will soon be able to play your favorite tunes, and maybe even some of your own.

It is absolutely time to get practicing, right?

Conclusion

Each individual’s skill level in learning different instruments varies, so what might be easy for others might be a bit harder for you. But there’s no reason to worry, as string instruments can be very flexible, as illustrated by the variations of the way a chord can be played. As useful as the G ukulele chord, there will be that one technique that you will find the most comfortable with.