Country, Folk

Choosing Texas Chords

Zach Bryan Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 3 min read

Gtap to play

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Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Choosing Texas Chords – Guitar

A reflective song by Zach Bryan about a man leaving his love behind for the open road and the Lone Star State. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

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Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I’m leavin’ in the mornin’ before the sun can rise

G D

I’m leavin’ you a note here to dry your eyes

G C

I’m leavin’ with the clothes on my back and a tank of gas

G D

And I’m sorry for the pain but I’m choosing Texas

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Verse 2

G C

I’ll call you from a payphone when I cross the line

G D

I’ll tell you that I’m doin’ fine, but that’ll be a lie

G C

I’ll think of all the good times and the love we made

G D

And I’ll pour one out for you in the Amarillo shade

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Bridge

Em C G

So long, my darlin’, my sweet, sweet girl

Em C D

I hope you find a man who can give you the world

Em C G

I hope he holds you tight and he treats you right

Em C D

And I hope you think of me sometimes late at night

Verse 3

G C

And if you ever wonder why I had to go

G D

Just know it wasn’t you, it was me and the road

G C

It was the call of the wild and a wide-open space

G D

It was the need to find my own forgotten face

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D repeats often. Practice switching between G and C until it’s automatic, as this is the most common change in the 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

Choosing Texas Chords – Ukulele

A reflective song by Zach Bryan about a man leaving his love behind for the open road and the Lone Star State. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I’m leavin’ in the mornin’ before the sun can rise

G D

I’m leavin’ you a note here to dry your eyes

G C

I’m leavin’ with the clothes on my back and a tank of gas

G D

And I’m sorry for the pain but I’m choosing Texas

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Verse 2

G C

I’ll call you from a payphone when I cross the line

G D

I’ll tell you that I’m doin’ fine, but that’ll be a lie

G C

I’ll think of all the good times and the love we made

G D

And I’ll pour one out for you in the Amarillo shade

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Bridge

Em C G

So long, my darlin’, my sweet, sweet girl

Em C D

I hope you find a man who can give you the world

Em C G

I hope he holds you tight and he treats you right

Em C D

And I hope you think of me sometimes late at night

Verse 3

G C

And if you ever wonder why I had to go

G D

Just know it wasn’t you, it was me and the road

G C

It was the call of the wild and a wide-open space

G D

It was the need to find my own forgotten face

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D repeats often. Practice switching between G and C until it’s automatic, as this is the most common change in the 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

Choosing Texas Chords – Piano

A reflective song by Zach Bryan about a man leaving his love behind for the open road and the Lone Star State. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I’m leavin’ in the mornin’ before the sun can rise

G D

I’m leavin’ you a note here to dry your eyes

G C

I’m leavin’ with the clothes on my back and a tank of gas

G D

And I’m sorry for the pain but I’m choosing Texas

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Verse 2

G C

I’ll call you from a payphone when I cross the line

G D

I’ll tell you that I’m doin’ fine, but that’ll be a lie

G C

I’ll think of all the good times and the love we made

G D

And I’ll pour one out for you in the Amarillo shade

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Bridge

Em C G

So long, my darlin’, my sweet, sweet girl

Em C D

I hope you find a man who can give you the world

Em C G

I hope he holds you tight and he treats you right

Em C D

And I hope you think of me sometimes late at night

Verse 3

G C

And if you ever wonder why I had to go

G D

Just know it wasn’t you, it was me and the road

G C

It was the call of the wild and a wide-open space

G D

It was the need to find my own forgotten face

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D repeats often. Practice switching between G and C until it’s automatic, as this is the most common change in the 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

Choosing Texas Chords – Banjo

A reflective song by Zach Bryan about a man leaving his love behind for the open road and the Lone Star State. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I’m leavin’ in the mornin’ before the sun can rise

G D

I’m leavin’ you a note here to dry your eyes

G C

I’m leavin’ with the clothes on my back and a tank of gas

G D

And I’m sorry for the pain but I’m choosing Texas

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Verse 2

G C

I’ll call you from a payphone when I cross the line

G D

I’ll tell you that I’m doin’ fine, but that’ll be a lie

G C

I’ll think of all the good times and the love we made

G D

And I’ll pour one out for you in the Amarillo shade

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Bridge

Em C G

So long, my darlin’, my sweet, sweet girl

Em C D

I hope you find a man who can give you the world

Em C G

I hope he holds you tight and he treats you right

Em C D

And I hope you think of me sometimes late at night

Verse 3

G C

And if you ever wonder why I had to go

G D

Just know it wasn’t you, it was me and the road

G C

It was the call of the wild and a wide-open space

G D

It was the need to find my own forgotten face

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D repeats often. Practice switching between G and C until it’s automatic, as this is the most common change in the 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

Choosing Texas Chords – Mandolin

A reflective song by Zach Bryan about a man leaving his love behind for the open road and the Lone Star State. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I’m leavin’ in the mornin’ before the sun can rise

G D

I’m leavin’ you a note here to dry your eyes

G C

I’m leavin’ with the clothes on my back and a tank of gas

G D

And I’m sorry for the pain but I’m choosing Texas

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Verse 2

G C

I’ll call you from a payphone when I cross the line

G D

I’ll tell you that I’m doin’ fine, but that’ll be a lie

G C

I’ll think of all the good times and the love we made

G D

And I’ll pour one out for you in the Amarillo shade

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Bridge

Em C G

So long, my darlin’, my sweet, sweet girl

Em C D

I hope you find a man who can give you the world

Em C G

I hope he holds you tight and he treats you right

Em C D

And I hope you think of me sometimes late at night

Verse 3

G C

And if you ever wonder why I had to go

G D

Just know it wasn’t you, it was me and the road

G C

It was the call of the wild and a wide-open space

G D

It was the need to find my own forgotten face

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D repeats often. Practice switching between G and C until it’s automatic, as this is the most common change in the 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

Choosing Texas Chords – Harmonica

A reflective song by Zach Bryan about a man leaving his love behind for the open road and the Lone Star State. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I’m leavin’ in the mornin’ before the sun can rise

G D

I’m leavin’ you a note here to dry your eyes

G C

I’m leavin’ with the clothes on my back and a tank of gas

G D

And I’m sorry for the pain but I’m choosing Texas

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Verse 2

G C

I’ll call you from a payphone when I cross the line

G D

I’ll tell you that I’m doin’ fine, but that’ll be a lie

G C

I’ll think of all the good times and the love we made

G D

And I’ll pour one out for you in the Amarillo shade

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Bridge

Em C G

So long, my darlin’, my sweet, sweet girl

Em C D

I hope you find a man who can give you the world

Em C G

I hope he holds you tight and he treats you right

Em C D

And I hope you think of me sometimes late at night

Verse 3

G C

And if you ever wonder why I had to go

G D

Just know it wasn’t you, it was me and the road

G C

It was the call of the wild and a wide-open space

G D

It was the need to find my own forgotten face

Chorus

G C

And I know you’re gonna hate me and I know you’re gonna cry

G D

And I know you’re gonna curse my name under the Oklahoma sky

G C

And I know I’m a bad man for packin’ up and leavin’

G D

But I got a feelin’ in my soul that I just can’t keep from bleedin’

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D repeats often. Practice switching between G and C until it’s automatic, as this is the most common change in the song.