The Fretboard: The G Major Scale and Power Chords in the Key of G

Now let’s play the G Major scale (and the Power Chords in the key of G) on the fretboard.

The G Major scale on a single string (1 octave), with scale degrees

Finger pattern for a 1 octave G Major scale

Guitar and bass: The E, A, D, and G strings shown in this six-string diagram are shared by guitar and standard four-string bass. This scale shape uses the E, A, and D strings and leaves the G string unused; bassists can ignore the B and high E strings. Start on G at the 3rd fret of the low E string and finish on G at the 5th fret of the D string. The fret locations work unchanged on bass and sound one octave lower. The printed finger numbers are guitar fingering suggestions; bassists should shift the fretting hand when needed instead of forcing a wide stretch across frets 2–5.

In standard notation and tablature

1 octave scale in open position

The 6 Power Chords in the key of G