(Admin note: this is part 2 of a 5 part series on chords. To start at the beginning of the series, click here)

The G chord

Ah yes, the very staple of playing Scruggs style, 5 string bluegrass banjo: the G chord. Learn it, live it, love it. Embrace, treat it nicely, take it out for an elegant dinner and spend some money on it. It’s going to be your friend for many a year to come.

Remember: there are 5 useable instances of any chord

How well do you know the very basic three chords for playing in the key of G? How quickly and smoothly can you switch between them? Being comfortable, fluid, and quick with chords is absolutely essential for playing any stringed instrument. The information in this 5 part series is likely just review for you, but maybe you’ll pick up something you missed regarding this very entry-level information.

Below you’ll see a chord chart showing you the useable instances of G on the banjo neck. Remember, back in part 1 of this series, I let you know that there are only 5 useable examples of any of the chords on the banjo neck. Now, again, if you are an established picker, don’t write me and tell me I’m wrong about that, because I acknowledge that you can get a 6th instance of some of the chords way up around the 20th fret. The key word, however, is useable. Some of those high positions aren’t even manageable by me, a 27+ year semi professional banjo picker, let alone a rank beginner with untrained hands and no muscle memory. The heel of the neck gets in the way, and it’s hard to cram your fingers into that tight area with the frets so close together.

Uh…correction: on the chart below, you’ll see four examples of the G chord. That’s because the very first instance of G is the open G with no fretting. I didn’t bother to put an empty neck blank on the page. Likely this open chord is your favorite and the one you can do the best! No explanation necessary.

And now, the star of our show…

The moment you’ve all been waiting for! Drum roll please…well, alright, we’ll save the theatrics I guess. But here for your edification and amusement is the chart of useable G chords on the banjo neck:

Click to enlarge this image for easier viewing

 How quickly can you move between these chords?

Here is a little drill that I challenge myself with, and that I torture my students with: show me the 4 examples of the G chord, without looking at a chord chart, as fast as you can. To test how well you can form the chord without squeaks/dead spots/buzzing/etc., just give the strings one quick strum at each instance of G. I personally can make each of these G chords, and give a little strum at each position, in 4 seconds. Does that amaze you? Perhaps not if you can do it too.

To go through this little drill quickly requires you to be able to lay all four fingers of your fretting hand down at once, and quickly. Often times a beginner struggles with making chords quickly for several weeks or months. But you can do it if you work at it every day. There’s no time like the present, so grab your banjo, dive in, and start “learning your neck”.

Questions? Thoughts? Problems?

I know what you are thinking: “Banjo Paul is a genius and I’m surprised he doesn’t win a Nobel Peace Prize for his work in banjo therapy…” That is a nice thought indeed, but unnecessary. No need to heap accolades on me. Just the adoring look in your eyes is thanks enough. Well, alright, if you really want to thank me, perhaps a good way to do it would be to leave comments below!! I’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and impressions when it comes to your “banjo life”. I and my readers can learn and grow from what you write.

Stay tuned for part 3 of this series where we go over all 5 useable instances of the C chord. Take care until then, and as I always say: pick ‘em if ya got ‘em!!

Banjo Paul
“Wunse, I coodn’t even spel bango pikker…now I are one!”
www.banjosrule.com (main site)
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