Country, Folk

Coal Chords

Zach Bryan Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 3 min read Updated Jul 2026

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Coal Chords – Guitar

A reflective and gritty song by Zach Bryan about hard work and legacy. 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 shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I remember the days when the mornings were long

G D

Down in the mines with a midnight song

G C

My daddy was a miner and his daddy was too

G D

And I did what a broken son would do

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Verse 2

G C

I remember the smell of the dirt and the rain

G D

The ache in my back like a railroad train

G C

The quiet men working, they never spoke a word

G D

Just the sound of the earth being disturbed

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Bridge

Am C G

And I’ll die down there with a shovel in my hand

Am C D

A simple, quiet boy from this simple, quiet land

Am C G

And they’ll lay me down in the dirt where I belong

Am C D

With a headstone readin’ “He did nothing wrong”

Verse 3

G C

Now the company men, they say the mine is done

G D

They’re packing up their machines in the settin’ sun

G C

They’ll leave us here with these hollowed-out hills

G D

And a lifetime of dust in our lungs to fill

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Outro

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Practice tip: Focus on the simple G, C, D progression. Strum lightly on the verses to match the somber tone, and strum a bit harder on the choruses for emphasis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Coal"?

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

Is "Coal" 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 "Coal" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Coal"?

It was written by Zach Bryan, and released in 2022.

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

Coal Chords – Ukulele

A reflective and gritty song by Zach Bryan about hard work and legacy. 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 shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I remember the days when the mornings were long

G D

Down in the mines with a midnight song

G C

My daddy was a miner and his daddy was too

G D

And I did what a broken son would do

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Verse 2

G C

I remember the smell of the dirt and the rain

G D

The ache in my back like a railroad train

G C

The quiet men working, they never spoke a word

G D

Just the sound of the earth being disturbed

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Bridge

Am C G

And I’ll die down there with a shovel in my hand

Am C D

A simple, quiet boy from this simple, quiet land

Am C G

And they’ll lay me down in the dirt where I belong

Am C D

With a headstone readin’ “He did nothing wrong”

Verse 3

G C

Now the company men, they say the mine is done

G D

They’re packing up their machines in the settin’ sun

G C

They’ll leave us here with these hollowed-out hills

G D

And a lifetime of dust in our lungs to fill

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Outro

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Practice tip: Focus on the simple G, C, D progression. Strum lightly on the verses to match the somber tone, and strum a bit harder on the choruses for emphasis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Coal"?

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

Is "Coal" 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 "Coal" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Coal"?

It was written by Zach Bryan, and released in 2022.

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

Coal Chords – Piano

A reflective and gritty song by Zach Bryan about hard work and legacy. 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 shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I remember the days when the mornings were long

G D

Down in the mines with a midnight song

G C

My daddy was a miner and his daddy was too

G D

And I did what a broken son would do

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Verse 2

G C

I remember the smell of the dirt and the rain

G D

The ache in my back like a railroad train

G C

The quiet men working, they never spoke a word

G D

Just the sound of the earth being disturbed

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Bridge

Am C G

And I’ll die down there with a shovel in my hand

Am C D

A simple, quiet boy from this simple, quiet land

Am C G

And they’ll lay me down in the dirt where I belong

Am C D

With a headstone readin’ “He did nothing wrong”

Verse 3

G C

Now the company men, they say the mine is done

G D

They’re packing up their machines in the settin’ sun

G C

They’ll leave us here with these hollowed-out hills

G D

And a lifetime of dust in our lungs to fill

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Outro

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Practice tip: Focus on the simple G, C, D progression. Strum lightly on the verses to match the somber tone, and strum a bit harder on the choruses for emphasis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Coal"?

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

Is "Coal" 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 "Coal" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Coal"?

It was written by Zach Bryan, and released in 2022.

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

Coal Chords – Banjo

A reflective and gritty song by Zach Bryan about hard work and legacy. 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 shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I remember the days when the mornings were long

G D

Down in the mines with a midnight song

G C

My daddy was a miner and his daddy was too

G D

And I did what a broken son would do

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Verse 2

G C

I remember the smell of the dirt and the rain

G D

The ache in my back like a railroad train

G C

The quiet men working, they never spoke a word

G D

Just the sound of the earth being disturbed

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Bridge

Am C G

And I’ll die down there with a shovel in my hand

Am C D

A simple, quiet boy from this simple, quiet land

Am C G

And they’ll lay me down in the dirt where I belong

Am C D

With a headstone readin’ “He did nothing wrong”

Verse 3

G C

Now the company men, they say the mine is done

G D

They’re packing up their machines in the settin’ sun

G C

They’ll leave us here with these hollowed-out hills

G D

And a lifetime of dust in our lungs to fill

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Outro

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Practice tip: Focus on the simple G, C, D progression. Strum lightly on the verses to match the somber tone, and strum a bit harder on the choruses for emphasis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Coal"?

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

Is "Coal" 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 "Coal" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Coal"?

It was written by Zach Bryan, and released in 2022.

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

Coal Chords – Mandolin

A reflective and gritty song by Zach Bryan about hard work and legacy. 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 shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I remember the days when the mornings were long

G D

Down in the mines with a midnight song

G C

My daddy was a miner and his daddy was too

G D

And I did what a broken son would do

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Verse 2

G C

I remember the smell of the dirt and the rain

G D

The ache in my back like a railroad train

G C

The quiet men working, they never spoke a word

G D

Just the sound of the earth being disturbed

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Bridge

Am C G

And I’ll die down there with a shovel in my hand

Am C D

A simple, quiet boy from this simple, quiet land

Am C G

And they’ll lay me down in the dirt where I belong

Am C D

With a headstone readin’ “He did nothing wrong”

Verse 3

G C

Now the company men, they say the mine is done

G D

They’re packing up their machines in the settin’ sun

G C

They’ll leave us here with these hollowed-out hills

G D

And a lifetime of dust in our lungs to fill

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Outro

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Practice tip: Focus on the simple G, C, D progression. Strum lightly on the verses to match the somber tone, and strum a bit harder on the choruses for emphasis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Coal"?

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

Is "Coal" 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 "Coal" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Coal"?

It was written by Zach Bryan, and released in 2022.

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

Coal Chords – Harmonica

A reflective and gritty song by Zach Bryan about hard work and legacy. 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 shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I remember the days when the mornings were long

G D

Down in the mines with a midnight song

G C

My daddy was a miner and his daddy was too

G D

And I did what a broken son would do

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Verse 2

G C

I remember the smell of the dirt and the rain

G D

The ache in my back like a railroad train

G C

The quiet men working, they never spoke a word

G D

Just the sound of the earth being disturbed

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Bridge

Am C G

And I’ll die down there with a shovel in my hand

Am C D

A simple, quiet boy from this simple, quiet land

Am C G

And they’ll lay me down in the dirt where I belong

Am C D

With a headstone readin’ “He did nothing wrong”

Verse 3

G C

Now the company men, they say the mine is done

G D

They’re packing up their machines in the settin’ sun

G C

They’ll leave us here with these hollowed-out hills

G D

And a lifetime of dust in our lungs to fill

Chorus

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Outro

C G

And coal, coal

D G

Black as the night and the craw of the crow

C G

And coal, coal

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

D G

It’s all that I’ve ever been told

Practice tip: Focus on the simple G, C, D progression. Strum lightly on the verses to match the somber tone, and strum a bit harder on the choruses for emphasis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Coal"?

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

Is "Coal" 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 "Coal" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Coal"?

It was written by Zach Bryan, and released in 2022.