Country, Folk

Choosing Texas Chords

Zach Bryan Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 4 min read Updated Jul 2026

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Ctap to play

Dtap to play

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Key

G

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)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Choosing Texas"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Choosing Texas" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Choosing Texas" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Choosing Texas"?

It was written by Zach Bryan, and released in 2024.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Choosing Texas"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Choosing Texas" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Choosing Texas" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Choosing Texas"?

It was written by Zach Bryan, and released in 2024.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Choosing Texas"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Choosing Texas" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Choosing Texas" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Choosing Texas"?

It was written by Zach Bryan, and released in 2024.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Choosing Texas"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Choosing Texas" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Choosing Texas" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Choosing Texas"?

It was written by Zach Bryan, and released in 2024.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Choosing Texas"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Choosing Texas" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Choosing Texas" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Choosing Texas"?

It was written by Zach Bryan, and released in 2024.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Choosing Texas"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Choosing Texas" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Choosing Texas" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Choosing Texas"?

It was written by Zach Bryan, and released in 2024.