Fingering this G major chord

 Start playing the chord by placing your second finger on

the third fret of the sixth string.
 Next, place your first finger on the second fret of the fifth
string.
 Lastly, place your third finger on the third fret of the first
string.
 Strum all six strings.
 Now, play the strings one at a time, listening for "dead"
notes. If you find one, identify the source of the problem,
and correct.

G Major Chord (based on E major shape)

This variation on the Gmajor chord can be thought of as a major
barre chord with root on the sixth string. If you examine the
diagram above, you'll see the chord shape on the fourth and
fifth fret resembles an open E major chord. The fretted notes
barred across the third fret replaces the nut.

Fingering this G Major Chord

 Place your first finger across all sixth strings on the third
fret.
 Place your third finger on the fifth fret of the fifth string.
 Place your fourth finger on the fifth fret of the fourth string.
  Place your second finger on the fourth fret of the third
string.

You may need to slightly "roll back" your first finger - so the
bony side of your finger (rather than the fleshy "palm" part of
your finger) is doing the barring.

If you haven't had experience playing barre chords, this will be

tough, and will probably not sound great at first. Memorize the
chord shape, and try spending a few minutes playing it
whenever you pick up the guitar - you'll be playing barre chords
within a few weeks.

G Major Chord (based on D major shape)

This is a less common G major chord shape based on a
standard open D major chord. If you're not able to immediately
recognize the basic D major shape within the G major chord
shown here, try fingering a D major chord. Now, slide the whole
shape up so your third finger is resting on the eighth fret. Now,
you'll need to account for what used to be the open fourth string
by changing your fingering of the chord.

Fingering this G major chord

 place your first finger on the fifth fret of the fourth string
  place your second finger on the seventh fret of the third
string
 place your fourth finger on the eighth fret of the second
string
 place your third finger on the seventh fret of the first string

Because of it's high register (featuring notes high up on the first

string), you'll want to choose your situations when using this
chord shape. It would probably sound unusual, for example, to
move from a standard E minor chord shape to the shape shown
here. Instead try playing this chord shape amongst other
shapes in a similar register.

This chord shape has the chord root G on the fourth string. To
learn how to apply this same shape to play other major chords,
you'll want to memorize the notes on the fourth string.
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G Major Chord (based on C major shape)

For guitarists looking to experiment with different shapes, here
is another way to play a G major chord. You'll notice the shape
on the third, second and first strings is that of an open D major
chord. To play this shape, however, you'll need to finger those
notes differently.

Fingering this G major chord

 Play the tenth fret of the fifth string with your fourth (pinky)
finger.
 Next, use your third finger to play the ninth fret of the fourth
string.
 Now, play the seventh fret of the third string with your first
finger.
 Your second finger will hold down the eighth fret of the
second string.
 Lastly, your first finger will play the seventh fret of the first
string. To do this, you'll need to barre strings three to one
with your first finger.

Tip: Try barring your first finger across the second fret of strings
four, three, two and one. Now, lift your third finger off the fourth
fret of the fourth string. Play that chord, and quickly hammer
on to the fourth fret of the fourth string with your second finger.
This is a technique guitarists use constantly to add color when
using this chord shape.