Worship

Old Rugged Cross Chords

Traditional Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 3 min read

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A traditional Christian hymn about devotion to the symbol of Christ’s sacrifice. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a slow, steady tempo to match the hymn’s solemn feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

D7 G

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

C G D7 G

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

C G D7

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 2

G C G

Oh, that old rugged cross, so de-spised by the world,

D7 G

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

C G D7 G

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory a-bove

C G D7

To bear it to dark Calvary.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 3

G C G

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so di-vine,

D7 G

A wondrous beauty I see;

C G D7 G

For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

C G D7

To pardon and sanctify me.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 4

G C G

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,

D7 G

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

C G D7 G

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far a-way,

C G D7

Where His glory for-ever I’ll share.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Practice tip: Master the G to D7 and C to G transitions, as they are the most common changes in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A traditional Christian hymn about devotion to the symbol of Christ’s sacrifice. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a slow, steady tempo to match the hymn’s solemn feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

D7 G

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

C G D7 G

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

C G D7

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 2

G C G

Oh, that old rugged cross, so de-spised by the world,

D7 G

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

C G D7 G

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory a-bove

C G D7

To bear it to dark Calvary.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 3

G C G

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so di-vine,

D7 G

A wondrous beauty I see;

C G D7 G

For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

C G D7

To pardon and sanctify me.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 4

G C G

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,

D7 G

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

C G D7 G

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far a-way,

C G D7

Where His glory for-ever I’ll share.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Practice tip: Master the G to D7 and C to G transitions, as they are the most common changes in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A traditional Christian hymn about devotion to the symbol of Christ’s sacrifice. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a slow, steady tempo to match the hymn’s solemn feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

D7 G

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

C G D7 G

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

C G D7

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 2

G C G

Oh, that old rugged cross, so de-spised by the world,

D7 G

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

C G D7 G

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory a-bove

C G D7

To bear it to dark Calvary.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 3

G C G

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so di-vine,

D7 G

A wondrous beauty I see;

C G D7 G

For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

C G D7

To pardon and sanctify me.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 4

G C G

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,

D7 G

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

C G D7 G

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far a-way,

C G D7

Where His glory for-ever I’ll share.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Practice tip: Master the G to D7 and C to G transitions, as they are the most common changes in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A traditional Christian hymn about devotion to the symbol of Christ’s sacrifice. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a slow, steady tempo to match the hymn’s solemn feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

D7 G

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

C G D7 G

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

C G D7

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 2

G C G

Oh, that old rugged cross, so de-spised by the world,

D7 G

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

C G D7 G

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory a-bove

C G D7

To bear it to dark Calvary.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 3

G C G

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so di-vine,

D7 G

A wondrous beauty I see;

C G D7 G

For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

C G D7

To pardon and sanctify me.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 4

G C G

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,

D7 G

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

C G D7 G

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far a-way,

C G D7

Where His glory for-ever I’ll share.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Practice tip: Master the G to D7 and C to G transitions, as they are the most common changes in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A traditional Christian hymn about devotion to the symbol of Christ’s sacrifice. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a slow, steady tempo to match the hymn’s solemn feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

D7 G

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

C G D7 G

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

C G D7

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 2

G C G

Oh, that old rugged cross, so de-spised by the world,

D7 G

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

C G D7 G

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory a-bove

C G D7

To bear it to dark Calvary.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 3

G C G

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so di-vine,

D7 G

A wondrous beauty I see;

C G D7 G

For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

C G D7

To pardon and sanctify me.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 4

G C G

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,

D7 G

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

C G D7 G

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far a-way,

C G D7

Where His glory for-ever I’ll share.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Practice tip: Master the G to D7 and C to G transitions, as they are the most common changes in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A traditional Christian hymn about devotion to the symbol of Christ’s sacrifice. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a slow, steady tempo to match the hymn’s solemn feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

D7 G

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

C G D7 G

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

C G D7

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 2

G C G

Oh, that old rugged cross, so de-spised by the world,

D7 G

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

C G D7 G

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory a-bove

C G D7

To bear it to dark Calvary.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 3

G C G

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so di-vine,

D7 G

A wondrous beauty I see;

C G D7 G

For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

C G D7

To pardon and sanctify me.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Verse 4

G C G

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,

D7 G

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

C G D7 G

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far a-way,

C G D7

Where His glory for-ever I’ll share.

Chorus

G C

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

G D7 G

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

C G

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

D7 G

And ex-change it some day for a crown.

Practice tip: Master the G to D7 and C to G transitions, as they are the most common changes in this song.