Changes

The G Major chord consists of the G, B, and D notes. Again, the major chord consists of a root note, and major third and perfect fifth above.

==Open Position G Major Chord==

{|

! Rock !! Classical !! 1st Inv. !! 2nd Inv.

Also included are 1st and 2nd inversion.

==Harmonic Theory: Dominant Chord==

The G is a perfect fifth interval above C. In the key of C Major, the G Major chord is thus called the ''V chord'' (that's the roman numeral five, not 'Vee'). It's notes are the perfect 5th, major 7th, and major 9th (2nd) above the tonic note of the key.

Given that any piece of music can have multiple ways to interpret the key and even which chords are being sounded, there is no one correct way to interpret the music. However, usually pieces tend to begin or end on the tonic note/chord. We can use that as a starting point, then analyze the harmonic movement we get. For the above example, if we were in the key of G Major, we'd have a I - IV transition, which is considered to build tension rather than relieve it. Using the key of C Major instead we have a V - I cadence, the strongest and most "satisfying" chord progression. So it makes more sense to assume we're in the key of C Major with a V - I chord progression.

== Strumming ==

The above example is pretty boring, both to listen and to play. Let's get into strumming.

''NOTE: I'm saying quarter ''note'' and half ''note'', but really you are strumming multiple notes that make up the chord. Saying "quarter note" is really just short-hand for saying "each note of the chord is a quarter note in length".''

=== Swing Feel ===

Sometimes to make simple rhythms a little more interesting, musicians employ a ''swing feel''. Basically, it takes two notes of equal duration and makes the first one a little longer and the second one shorter. The most typical rhythm uses a triplet, which we will cover [[Applying Rhythm to Chords|later]]. However, a swing feel does not have to be strict. For now, consider a swing feel as though two quarter notes sound more like a dotted quarter note and an eighth note. This creates an accented downbeat with a leading upbeat rhythm.

Similarly, sometimes musicians play ahead or behind the beat (even on the 1 and 3 beat, not just the 2 and 4). This means they are technically off-time, but if done very subtly, it sounds musical instead of sounding like a mistake.

=== Bass/Strum ===

Another way to make simple chord progressions more interesting is to play a ''bass/strum pattern''. This is where you play the bass note on one beat, then strum the rest of (or whole) chord on the next.

This is quite a bit more engaging than straight strummed quarter note chords, eh?

=== Inversion Bass/Strum ===

C C/G C C/G G G/B G G/B C

Also, notice the B in the bass of the 1st inversion G Major chord cleanly ascends one half-step to the bass note of the C Major chord. This is good voice leading and should seem quite natural - a bit easier on the ears than going from root position G Major to C Major.

== Homework ==

* [[Other Open String Chords]]

[[Category:Guitar]]

[[Category:Rhythm]]