Chords in the key of G major
The key of G major has seven diatonic chords: G, Am, BmBmBmBm, C, D, EmEmEmEm and F#°. As sevenths: Gmaj7Gmaj7Gmaj7Gmaj7, Am7Am7Am7Am7, Bm7Bm7Bm7Bm7, Cmaj7Cmaj7Cmaj7Cmaj7, D7D7D7D7, Em7Em7Em7Em7 and F#m7b5. They come from the G major scale, G, A, B, C, D, E and F#, one on each note.
The table shows each chord in two versions: the triad (the three-note chord) and the seventh chord (the same chord with a fourth note, the seventh, that enriches it).
Notes: G – A – B – C – D – E – F#| Degree | Triad | Seventh | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | GGGG | Gmaj7Gmaj7Gmaj7Gmaj7 | tonic |
| ii | AmAmAmAm | Am7Am7Am7Am7 | subdominant |
| iii | BmBmBmBm | Bm7Bm7Bm7Bm7 | tonic |
| IV | CCCC | Cmaj7Cmaj7Cmaj7Cmaj7 | subdominant |
| V | DDDD | D7D7D7D7 | dominant |
| vi | EmEmEmEm | Em7Em7Em7Em7 | tonic |
| vii° | F#° | F#m7b5 | dominant |
The roman numerals mark the chord's position in the scale: I is the first degree, V the fifth. Uppercase = major chord; lowercase = minor; ° = diminished.
Tonic chords stabilize and rest; subdominant chords prepare motion; dominant chords build the tension that asks for resolution.