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The G Major scale consists of the notes G A B C D E F#. G is a 5th above C, or one clockwise movement along the circle of fifths above C. It shares all the same notes as C Major, except the F#, which is the leading tone in G Major.{{Top-Level Crumbs|1}}{{Lesson Crumbs|2}}{{Intermediate Lesson Crumbs|9}}
eE--------------------------------------0--2--3- bB-----------------------------0--1--3---------- gG-----------------------0--2------------------- dD--------------0--2--4------------------------- aA-----0--2--3---------------------------------- eE--3-------------------------------------------
eE--------------------------------------------0-- bB-----------------------------------0--1--3----- gG-----------------------------0--2-------------- dD--------------------0--2--4-------------------- aA-----------0--2--3----------------------------- eE--0--2--3--------------------------------------
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eE----------------|---------------|--------0---2--|3--------------| bB-------------0--|1-------0---1--|3--------------|---------------| gG-0---0----2------|---------------|---------------|---------------| dD----------------|---------------|---------------|---------------| aA----------------|---------------|---------------|---------------| eE----------------|---------------|---------------|---------------| Notice there's nothing special about the different keys. Notes may change and chords may need to be voiced a little differently, but ultimately what matters is the pattern. A I-IV-V-I progression will feel the same in G Major as it does in C Major. The ascending G Major scale melody above uses the following notes from the scale: 1 2 3 4 3 4 5 6 7 8. Using the same relationship of notes in C Major would produce an identical effect. {{top}} == Why Use Different Keys? =={{Crumbs|blue|5|G Major and E Minor#G Major|G Major|G Major and E Minor#E Minor|E Minor|G Major and E Minor#Open Position Chord Voicings|Open Pos. Chords|G Major and E Minor#Sample Song in G Major|Sample Song|G Major and E Minor#Why Use Different Keys?|Why Different Keys?}} So if everything is relative and any major key is going to be roughly the same as any other major key, what's the point of using different keys? Why not write everything in C Major? We have not yet gotten to the topic of [[Modulation|'''modulation''']], which involves changing keys inside a song. This can have a profound effect on the piece as a whole. It requires we know the different keys used, which must be at least 2. We won't always modulate to the current key's 5th, either. While one song may modulate from C Major to G Major, another song may modulate from C Major to E Major. While many songs have sections devoted to a modulation, it doesn't need to be so obvious. We may want to modulate out of the key for just a measure to play a certain melody we think will sound good over the current chord. Even if a song does not modulate to another key, it may require being written in a certain key so that it fits the '''range''' of a certain instrument. For instance, consider a piece written for clarinet, whose range is E3 to G6. The piece features an ascending 3 octave arpeggio run of the tonic chord, ending on the root note 3 octaves above the original note. There are only a few possible notes that this will work for without exceeding the clarinet's range: E, F, F{{s}} and G. If C Major is the key, the clarinet will not be able to play the piece. So the piece is written in a different key, such as E Major. Even if an instrument's range is not the concern, '''timbre''' might be. For instance, many songs written for guitar are written in E Minor. Even though the guitar could play the song in any minor key, the composer chose E Minor because the low E is the lowest note of the guitar. He had conceptualized hitting that low E in mind when he wrote the piece, which is deeper and more impactful than hitting the A or E{{f}} above low E.
Here If a song is written in one key for a very simple certain instrument, but we want to play it with a different instrument, we may consider '''transposing''' the song using to a I - IV - V - I progression in G Majordifferent key. This simply means moving all the pitches/notes uniformly higher or lower. All the relative pitches between notes remain intact. The chord progression is written above However, now the piece may fit the tabinstrument's range or desired timbre. You can apply rhythm For guitar, the easiest way to it however you like, as discussed [[Applying Rhythm do this is to Chords|in use a prior lesson]]capo. The melody written in All the chord fingerings will be identical. == Homework ==* Know that G Major is one clockwise movement from C Major on the tab basically just ascends circle of fifths.* Know that E Minor is one clockwise movement from A Minor on the circle of fifths.* Know that G Major and E Minor are relative keys.* Know that G Major scale, playing differs from C Major (or E Minor from A Minor) only by one note: F -> F{{s}}.* Learn the root diatonic chords of G Major/E Minor.* Play the accompanying chords for the sample song above in open position.* Play the melody for the sample song above.* Play previous chord progression samples from C Major or A Minor in the harmony on key of G Major or E Minor. Use the roman numerals as your guide.* Know the downbeat above reasons why playing in different keys can be useful. == Q & A ==== Related Lessons ==* [[Music Theory Basics]]* [[C Major in Open Position and Alternate Picking]]* [[Circle of each measure.Fifths]] {{top}} {{Intermediate Lesson Crumbs|9}} [[Category:Guitar]][[Category:Intermediate Lessons]][[Category:Chords]][[Category:Harmony]][[Category:Scales]]
→Open Position Scale
This lesson serves as a primer to understanding keys other than C Major and A Minor. This is the only lesson that addresses a specific key as such. Combining this lesson with the [[Circle of Fifths|circle of fifths lesson]] and the upcoming [[Scales for all Positions|the all-positions lesson]] should be enough, so that you can learn any key you desire on your own. The '''key of G Major''' consists of the notes G A B C D E F{{s}}. G is a 5th above C, or one clockwise movement along the [[Circle of Fifths|circle of fifths]] above C. It shares all the same notes as [[C Major in Open Position and Alternate Picking|C Major]], except the F{{s}}, which is the leading tone in G Major. '''E Minor ''' is the [[Music Theory - Minor Keys|relative minor ]] of G Major, sharing all the same notes. E is the 5th of A, and A Minor is the relative minor of C Major. Just as we traverse the circle of fifths clockwise to go from C to G, we can do the same for A to E. ''E Minor is a rather popular key for guitar, having a tonic note as the lowest note of the standard-tuned 6-string guitar.''
== PreReqs ==
== G Major ==
{{Crumbs|blue|1
|G Major and E Minor#G Major|G Major
|G Major and E Minor#E Minor|E Minor
|G Major and E Minor#Open Position Chord Voicings|Open Pos. Chords
|G Major and E Minor#Sample Song in G Major|Sample Song
|G Major and E Minor#Why Use Different Keys?|Why Different Keys?
}}
=== Diatonic Chords ===
G Major contains the following diatonic chords:
{|class="wikitable"
|+ G Major Diatonic Chords
! I !! ii !! iii !! IV !! V !! vi !! vii°vii{{dim}}
|-
| G || Am || Bm || C || D || Em || FdimF{{dim}}
|-
| G B D || A C E || B D F# {{s}} || C E G || D F# {{s}} A || E G B || F# {{s}} A C
|}
Notice the 3 chords with the F# {{s}} are the only ones that aren't also diatonic to C Major. The Bdim B{{dim}} in C Major gets a raised 5th to become Bm. The Dm gets a raised 3rd to become D, and the F becomes F#{{s}}{{dim}}. Their inclusion of the F# {{s}} leading tone gives them a dominant harmonic function.
=== Open Position Scale ===
r o m r o m p o m o i r o m r
G A B C D E F# G A B C D E F# G
Notice how the root note of the key is found on the 1st and 6th strings. This means that the key has a full 2 octaves of notes for a single position.
== E Minor ==
{{Crumbs|blue|2
|G Major and E Minor#G Major|G Major
|G Major and E Minor#E Minor|E Minor
|G Major and E Minor#Open Position Chord Voicings|Open Pos. Chords
|G Major and E Minor#Sample Song in G Major|Sample Song
|G Major and E Minor#Why Use Different Keys?|Why Different Keys?
}}
=== Diatonic Chords ===
E (Natural) Minor contains the following diatonic chords:
{|class="wikitable"
|+ E Minor Diatonic Chords
! i !! ii° ii{{dim}} !! III !! iv !! v !! VI !! VII
|-
| Em || Fdim F{{dim}} || G || Am || Bm || C || D
|-
| E G B || F# {{s}} A C || G B D || A C E || B D F# {{s}} || C E G || D F# {{s}} A
|}
Again, notice the 3 chords with the F# {{s}} are the only ones that aren't also diatonic to A minor. The Bdim B{{dim}} in A Minor gets a raised 5th to become Bm. The , the Dm gets a raised 3rd to become D, and the F becomes F#{{s}}{{dim}}. But unlike G Major, only the D is a dominant-function chord, while the F{{s}}{{dim}} and Bm are pre-dominant.
=== Open Position Scale ===
o m r o m r o m p o m o i r o
E F# G A B C D E F# G A B C D E {{top}}
== Open Position Chord Voicings ==
{{Crumbs|blue|3
|G Major and E Minor#G Major|G Major
|G Major and E Minor#E Minor|E Minor
|G Major and E Minor#Open Position Chord Voicings|Open Pos. Chords
|G Major and E Minor#Sample Song in G Major|Sample Song
|G Major and E Minor#Why Use Different Keys?|Why Different Keys?
}}
Here are open position chord voicings for G Major and E Minor. Notice that 4 of these are already well-known from C Major. D is already known from the [[Other Open String Chords#D Major|other open string chords]] lesson. The only new ones are Bm and F{{s}}{{dim}}. Bm is difficult to make use of open strings (unlike its [[7th Chords|7th chord]]), so it uses the [[Barre Chords#5 String - A Shapes|common 5-string barre shape]]. Really only F{{s}}{{dim}} is new, and unfortunately diminished triads can have some nasty shapes. The [[7th Chords#Half Diminished|7th chord varieties]] actually make more sense, but we haven't gotten that far quite yet.
{|
! G !! Am !! Bm !! C !! D !! Em !! F#{{s}}{{dim}}
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For F{{s}}{{dim}}, use the ring finger to mute the open D on the D string. If the F#dim shape is too difficult to reach , you can leave off the F# {{s}} on the high E string, you can leave it offusing the pinky in place of the ring finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, and using the ring finger solely to mute the open D string. <pre>||-|-|-|-|||i|-|-|-|||-|p|-|-|||-|-|-|-| - use ring finger to muteo|-|-|-|-|||-|m|-|-|</pre> {{top}}
== Sample Song in G Major ==
{{Crumbs|blue|4
|G Major and E Minor#G Major|G Major
|G Major and E Minor#E Minor|E Minor
|G Major and E Minor#Open Position Chord Voicings|Open Pos. Chords
|G Major and E Minor#Sample Song in G Major|Sample Song
|G Major and E Minor#Why Use Different Keys?|Why Different Keys?
}}
Here is a very simple song using a I - IV - V - I progression in G Major. The chord progression is written above the tab. You can apply rhythm to it however you like, as discussed [[Applying Rhythm to Chords|in a prior lesson]]. The melody written in the tab basically just ascends the G Major scale, playing the root of the chord in the harmony on the downbeat of each measure.
G C D G
I IV V I
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4