Depending on the perspective you see it, the G# major chord can also be the Ab major chord. Often, we’ll find this chord written as Ab since understanding it from the perspective of G# can be a bit challenging.
This chord doesn’t allow an open chord shape. Therefore, the standard version has the shape of a barre chord. It has been used in many genres, but especially in rock, blues, and metal. It’s a very interesting chord that can be played with shapes other than the barre chord, and today we’ll explore some of those shapes.
If you’re interested in composing some music using this chord, we recommend you try the other chords that belong to the key of G# major, such as A#m, B#m, C#, D#, E#m, Fx diminished. If you’d like to go beyond that, you can try some chords from other keys like Fm, Cm, and Eb major!
We’ll show you the different shapes that you can try to play this amazing chord. This way, you’ll have options before you can produce good-sounding barre chords. We’ll show you these chords in order of difficulty, starting with the easiest one!
Easy G# Major Chord Shape
Since the standard version of this chord is a barre chord, you should learn how to play a simple shape first. Here we have a great alternative that you can use while you’re still learning how to play the standard G# major chord shape. Try it with your index finger pressing all the strings. This way, you’ll train your finger to play barre chords!
G# Major Triad Chord Shapes
Knowing how to play the different inversions and positions that this chord has along the fretboard will give you many options to play this chord. Not only that but it will also help you find other sounds using the same chord!
Each of these chord shapes has its sound and feeling, and it would be great for every guitarist to know them! Let’s check some of these chord shapes:
Standard G# Major Chord Shape
Playing this chord can be a little challenging for some beginner guitarists, but just with a few hours of practice, you’ll be strumming beautiful G# major chords! Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t sound as good as you’d like it to sound on your first tries! Every guitarist, even legendary shredders, has struggled with this type of chord.
We recommend you follow these tips to get your hand used to play barre chords:
- Press with the side of your index finger the whole set of strings on the first frets. For now, just use that finger until you produce a good sound out of all the strings.
- As soon as you can play all the notes with your index finger pressing them, you can proceed to place the other fingers where they belong to play the chord.
- Practice the chord as much as you can. You can do that by pressing and releasing the strings while following the shape.
Follow the next image to learn how to play the standard G# major chord:
G# Major Barre Chord Shape
If you’d like to learn another way in which you can play a G# major barre chord, then stay here. For this chord, you’ll have to mute the 6th string—or at least avoid playing it—and change the position of some fingers. We recommend learning the standard version first! Follow the next image to learn how to play this chord:
