G♯ Major

How to play G♯ major on the piano

Playing the G♯ major chord starts with finding the root. Look for black keys in groups of three and find the middle black key: G♯. From there, you can build the chord.

G♯ major contains notes with double sharps and is difficult to read, so you won’t often see it. It’s easier to read and write these pitches in the key of A♭ major, since A♭ is the same key as G♯ on the piano.

Different names for the same pitch are known as enharmonic equivalents — A♭ is the enharmonic equivalent of G♯. It's still useful to understand how chords work in theory, so keep reading to learn more about G♯ major!

The G♯ major chord uses G♯, B♯ and D♯. You might more easily recognize B♯ as the C note on the piano. To play the chord with your right hand, use the following fingers:

D♯ - Fifth finger (5)
B♯ - Third finger (3)
G♯ - First finger (1)

Read more: Our guide to major and minor chords.

With your left hand, you would play the chord using the following fingers:

D♯ - First finger (1)
B♯ - Third finger (3)
G♯ - Fifth finger (5)

In some instances, you might find it easier to play the chord with different fingers. To see the chord built and hear how it sounds, watch our video above.

What are the inversions of G♯ major?

The two inversions of G♯ major can be played by rearranging the order of the notes in the chord. Below, you'll learn how to play the first and second inversions.

How to play the first inversion of G♯ major

Place B♯ as the lowest note in the chord to play the first inversion of the G♯ major chord. With your right hand, you would use the following fingers:

G♯ - Fifth finger (5)
D♯ - Second finger (2)
B♯ - First finger (1)

Read more: Our guide to chord inversions.

How to play the second inversion of G♯ major

The second inversion of the chord can be played by placing D♯ as the lowest note. Use the following fingers to play the chord with your right hand:

B♯ - Fifth finger (5)
G♯ - Third finger (3)
D♯ - First finger (1)