Learn › G Major Triad Inversions on Guitar: 12 Shapes
New Released in April 2026
G Major Triad Inversions on Guitar: 12 Shapes
The G major triad on guitar does not need six strings. Three notes, G, B and D, on three strings give you G anywhere on the neck, in root position, 1st and 2nd inversion.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
Where G sits on the neck
Each row uses three neighbouring strings and climbs the neck from the lowest shape to the highest. Mute or skip the other strings.
G-B-e strings
1st inversion
2nd inversion
Root position
D-G-B strings
2nd inversion
Root position
1st inversion
A-D-G strings
1st inversion
2nd inversion
Root position
E-A-D strings
Root position
1st inversion
2nd inversion
Three orders of the same three notes
Root position puts G at the bottom, 1st inversion puts B at the bottom, 2nd inversion puts D at the bottom. It is still G; what changes is the lowest and the highest note you hear.
Bright and stable: the triad most songs are built on.
All G triad frets in one table
| String set | Root position | 1st inversion | 2nd inversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-B-e strings | x x x 12 12 10 | x x x 4 3 3 | x x x 7 8 7 |
| D-G-B strings | x x 5 4 3 x | x x 9 7 8 x | x x 0 0 0 x |
| A-D-G strings | x 10 9 7 x x | x 2 0 0 x x | x 5 5 4 x x |
| E-A-D strings | 3 2 0 x x x | 7 5 5 x x x | 10 10 9 x x x |
Frets from the low E string to the high E string; x = string not played.
Make G triads automatic
- Start with the G-B-e strings only: three shapes, one minute each.
- Climb the neck through the three shapes and come back down without stopping.
- Pick one fret area, around fret 7, and find G on every string set without moving your hand far.
- Then test yourself: random chord names, find the closest G shape each time.
A few minutes a day on one string set is enough; add the next set next week.
How to move between the shapes
On the G-B-e strings, the shapes go up the neck in this order: 1st inversion (fret 4) → 2nd inversion (fret 8) → root position (fret 12). The top notes along the way are G, B, D.
One area of the neck, near fret 7, already holds four G shapes: G-B-e strings 7-8-7; D-G-B strings 5-4-3; A-D-G strings 5-5-4; E-A-D strings 7-5-5.
Test G with your guitar
ChordRunner listens to your guitar through the microphone: a chord name appears, you play it in any shape, and the game hears if the notes are right. A MIDI keyboard works too.
Play the demoCommon questions
What are the inversions of G on guitar?
Root position (G at the bottom), 1st inversion (B at the bottom) and 2nd inversion (D at the bottom). On the top three strings: 1st inversion 4-3-3; 2nd inversion 7-8-7; Root position 12-12-10.
Which G triad shape is the easiest?
Usually the lowest one on the top strings, 4-3-3, because it sits near the nut.
What does a G triad sound like?
Bright and stable: the triad most songs are built on.
Can I practise G with a game that listens to my guitar?
Yes. ChordRunner hears your guitar through the microphone and checks the chord in any shape or inversion. A USB MIDI keyboard works too.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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