Three-Chord Songs on Guitar: Play Hundreds of Songs With G, C and D
Three chords really are enough for hundreds of songs — from early rock and roll to punk, country and folk. Here is why, and where to start.
We list the chords commonly used to play each song and describe the feel. We do not publish lyrics or full transcriptions — use the original recording and a licensed lyrics or tab service to play along. Some recordings use a capo or a different key; use our transposer and capo finder to match them.
Why three chords work
In every major key, the three major chords built on the 1st, 4th and 5th notes of the scale — called I, IV and V — contain every note of the scale between them. Together they can harmonise almost any simple melody. That is why so many songs are built on them.
| Key | I | IV | V | Bonus: vi (minor) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | G | C | D | Em |
| C | C | F | G | Am |
| D | D | G | A | Bm |
| A | A | D | E | F#m |
| E | E | A | B (or B7) | C#m |
Learn more in our theory guide.
Three-chord songs in G (G, C, D)
| Song | Artist | Chords | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaving on a Jet Plane | John Denver | G, C, D | Folk strum |
| Love Me Do | The Beatles | G, C, D | Slow changes |
| Blowin' in the Wind | Bob Dylan | G, C, D | Try fingerpicking |
| Ring of Fire | Johnny Cash | G, C, D | Country bass-strum |
| Sweet Home Alabama | Lynyrd Skynyrd | D, C, G | Same chords, starting on D |
Three-chord songs in D and A
| Song | Artist | Chords | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad Moon Rising | Creedence Clearwater Revival | D, A, G | Upbeat |
| Twist and Shout | The Beatles | D, G, A | Fast repeating loop |
| Three Little Birds | Bob Marley | A, D, E | Reggae offbeat |
| Wild Thing | The Troggs | A, D, E (G in places) | Loud down-strums |
| Achy Breaky Heart | Billy Ray Cyrus | A, E | Two chords! |
Three-chord songs in C
| Song | Artist | Chords | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Bamba | Ritchie Valens | C, F, G | Fast loop; use the small F |
| Imagine | John Lennon | C, Cmaj7, F (more chords in the bridge) | Gentle piano-style strum |
The 12-bar blues
The 12-bar blues is the three-chord progression behind blues, rock and roll and countless jam sessions. In the key of A, using seventh chords:
| A7 | A7 | A7 | A7 | | D7 | D7 | A7 | A7 | | E7 | D7 | A7 | E7 |
Play it with a shuffle feel (see swing and shuffle) and you will recognise it immediately. Once you can play it, try soloing over it with the A minor pentatonic scale.
Add a fourth chord
Add the vi chord (Em in G) and you unlock the "four-chord song" progression I–V–vi–IV (G – D – Em – C), used in a staggering number of pop hits. See easy songs for beginners.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three main guitar chords?
In the key of G they are G, C and D — the I, IV and V chords. They are the most common three-chord set for beginners.
Can I play any 3-chord song in a different key?
Yes. Replace the chords with I, IV and V from another key, or use a capo. Our transposer does this automatically.
