The G chord is one of the most common open chords used on the guitar.
We see this thing everywhere, and it does not appear to be going out of style.
It really is a great full sounding chord that many songs have used as their basis.
But there is really more than just the open G chord.
In fact, a G chord can be played in several positions on the guitar neck.
Today we're going to look at three of the most useful ones.
The Open G Chord This is by far the most common variation.
Using the open strings on the guitar gives this version of the chord a nice full sound.
To play this, place your fingers on the following frets (from low to high): 320033.
The 3rd Fret G This is the second most common version of the chord, and is a little less full sounding than the open version.
This may or may not be a good thing depending on what style you're going for.
In any case it is useful to know.
Play this version like this: 355433.
This is the major bar chord form and is easier to move around.
The 10th fret G This is the highest version of the chord.
You can get some good shimmering highs from this variation that are not really available from the other two.
This is played as a major bar chord with the root on the A string, as follows: x 10 12 12 12 x.
The easiest way to play this chord is by barring the 12th fret.
Again, the shape is very movable so it is simple to play other chords in succession with it.
So there you have it! Three different variations of the G major chord.
It is good to know these different forms so that you are not continuously playing the exact same thing.
Remember that versatility is a guitar player's best friend.
Keep practicing and have fun!