Rock, Alternative

Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked Chords

Cage the Elephant Beginner Key of C 4 Chords 2 min read Updated Jul 2026

Amtap to play

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Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

Am · G · F · C

Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked Chords – Guitar

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Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

Am · G · F · C

Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked Chords – Ukulele

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Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

Am · G · F · C

Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked Chords – Piano

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Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

Am · G · F · C

Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked Chords – Banjo

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Ctap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

Am · G · F · C

Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked Chords – Mandolin

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Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

Am · G · F · C

Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked Chords – Harmonica

Cage the Elephant’s gritty rock anthem about the relentless pursuit of money in a corrupt world. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Chords used: Am, G, F, C · Key: C · Difficulty: Beginner

Driving Rock (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

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Tip: Use a palm mute on the downstrokes for the verses to get that tight, percussive sound.

Chords & Structure

Full Song

Verse 1

C – G

Am – F

C – G

Am – F

C – G

Am – F

C – G – Am

F – C

Chorus

G – C (×2)

G – C – G – C

G – C

G – C – G

C – G (×2)

F – C

Verse 2

C – G

Am – F

C – G

Am – F – C

C – G

Am – F

C – G – Am

F – C

Chorus

G – C (×2)

G – C – G – C

G – C

G – C – G

C – G (×2)

F – C

Bridge

C – G

Am – F

C – G

Am – F

C – G

Am – F

C – G – Am

F – C

Chorus

G – C (×2)

G – C – G – C

G – C

G – C – G

C – G (×2)

F – C

Outro

G – C – G

F – C

G – C – G

F – C

Practice tip: Master the four-chord progression (C, G, Am, F) used throughout the song before adding the strum pattern, as this will make the whole song much easier to play.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: Am, G, F and C.

Is "Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked"?

It was written by Matt Shultz, Brad Shultz, Jared Champion, Lincoln Parish, Daniel Tichenor, and released in 2008.