G Ionian

Happy, bright, resolved — built from G major

PARENT FAMILY · G MAJ

All 7 modes share the same parent scale (G major). G Ionian is the I mode.

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	G Ionian	Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	A Dorian	Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	B Phrygian	Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	C Lydian	Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	D Mixolydian	D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	E Aeolian	Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	F♯ Locrian	F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

G A B C D E F♯

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

The Ionian scale on G contains the notes G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯. The pentatonic subset is G, A, B, D, E.

Characteristic note: the major 7th gives it a bright, resolved sound.

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

Gmaj7

II

Am7

III

Bm7

IV

Cmaj7

V

D7

VI

Em7

VII

F♯m7♭5

▸ Play G Ionian over Gmaj7 and D7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · HAPPY, BRIGHT, RESOLVED

HAPPY, BRIGHT, RESOLVED

G Ionian is a major mode with a happy, bright, resolved character. It is the I mode of G major — it uses the same 7 notes as G Ionian but is rooted on G, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is Gmaj7.

Where to use G Ionian

Major key melodies, pop, folk, classical.

Famous examples

Happy Birthday
Let It Be
most pop songs

What makes it distinctive: the major 7th gives it a bright, resolved sound.

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