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G Major Scale on Piano

The G major scale uses G, A, B, C, D, E and F♯. See the keyboard, key signature and one-octave fingering for both hands, then hear and practice the scale.

Starting noteG
Key signatureF#
Range1 octave
Current scale

G Major

Hand
Right hand
Range
G4-G5 · 1 octave
Demo / print tempo
60 BPM

G – A – B – C – D – E – F♯ – G

Direction: Ascending · G4 → G5 · Semitone movement: 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 1

Tempo60 BPM

Ascending

Fingering from the listed sources
NotesG4A4B4C5D5E5F♯5G5
Fingers12312345

One-octave fingering.

G4A4B4C5D5E5♯F#5G5

Keyboard

G4 to G5
G4G#4Ab4A4A#4Bb4B4C5C#5Db5D5D#5Eb5E5F5F♯5G5

Sources

Finger numbers identify fingers, not scale degrees. Only one-octave, separately checked rows are shown.

Practice task

Check the notes

Select every note used in G Major, ascending. This question checks the note set; octave and order do not matter.

Chosen: None

Attempt open · unassisted

Answer reference: G Major, ascending - note set

G - A - B - C - D - E - F♯. Octave and order are not scored in this question.

Answer reference: G Major, ascending - right hand

G4 - A4 - B4 - C5 - D5 - E5 - F♯5 - G5

Single-hand guide

Practice with a pulse

60 BPM

This guide does not listen to your piano. Completion is self-reported. The staff is a pitch reference; the pulse controls timing.

Practice tempo: 60 BPM · 1 octave · Right hand · G4-G5 · 4-beat count-in

PianoGrid

G Major

Key signature: F#

Current scale

G Major

Hand
Right hand
Range
G4-G5 · 1 octave
Demo / print tempo
60 BPM

G – A – B – C – D – E – F♯ – G

Direction: Ascending · G4 → G5 · Semitone movement: 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 1

Ascending

Fingering from the listed sources
NotesG4A4B4C5D5E5F♯5G5
Fingers12312345

One-octave fingering.

G4A4B4C5D5E5♯F#5G5

Keyboard

G4 to G5
G4G#4Ab4A4A#4Bb4B4C5C#5Db5D5D#5Eb5E5F5F♯5G5

Sources

One-octave reference. Finger numbers appear only for the hand and direction combinations covered by the sources listed above.

G Major notes

G Major contains G, A, B, C, D, E, F#. Repeat G at the top to complete one octave. Its key signature has 1 sharp.

The last step is F-sharp to G

The seventh degree is F-sharp, not F natural. F♯–G is a half step; the other half step is B–C. A run of white keys from G to G would therefore miss one of the notes required for G major. The single sharp remains present on the way down.

One-octave fingering

The right hand changes from finger 3 on B to the thumb on C, then reaches F♯ with finger 4. In the left hand, the thumb on D is followed by finger 3 on E. These are separate crossing points even when both hands move upward.

A short practice check

Suggested drill: play E–F♯–G, then G–F♯–E, keeping F♯ in both directions. Next, start the full scale from the lower G and name the two half-step pairs as you reach them. Use the descending finger row rather than restarting the ascending row from the top.

Continue with a source-backed reference that matches this task.

Chords and scale degrees in G major

Each degree of G major has a name, and stacking every other note from that degree gives the triad built on it. Roman numerals use capitals for major triads, lower case for minor and ° for diminished.

E minor is the relative minor of G major. Both keys use the same notes and key signature, but the minor key starts on degree 6.

G major uses one black key: F♯.

On a narrow screen, scroll this table horizontally to read every column.

Scale degrees and triads in G major
DegreeNoteDegree nameTriadTriad notes
1GTonicI · G majorG – B – D
2ASupertonicii · A minorA – C – E
3BMediantiii · B minorB – D – F♯
4CSubdominantIV · C majorC – E – G
5DDominantV · D majorD – F♯ – A
6ESubmediantvi · E minorE – G – B
7F♯Leading tonevii° · F♯ diminishedF♯ – A – C

Adding a seventh to the dominant triad gives V7, the dominant seventh of G major. D7: D – F♯ – A – C.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes and key signature of G major?

The one-octave ascending notes are G–A–B–C–D–E–F#–G. The key signature contains 1 sharp: F#. These accidentals also apply in descent.

Why is playing all the white keys from G to G not a G-major scale?

G major requires F#, giving G–A–B–C–D–E–F#–G. White keys alone would produce F natural and therefore a different interval pattern.

Which fingers are used by each hand ascending and descending over one octave?

This source-documented one-octave reference shows right hand ascending 1–2–3–1–2–3–4–5 and descending 5–4–3–2–1–3–2–1; left hand ascending 5–4–3–2–1–3–2–1 and descending 1–2–3–1–2–3–4–5. Read each row in playing order. These are sourced choices, not the only possible fingerings, and must not be repeated mechanically for a second octave.

What should I check during a short practice run?

Suggested drill: play E–F♯–G, then G–F♯–E, keeping F♯ in both directions. Next, start the full scale from the lower G and name the two half-step pairs as you reach them. Use the descending finger row rather than restarting the ascending row from the top.

Sources

References for the notes, patterns and examples on this page.