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Courtesy of the Red White and Blue Chords

Toby Keith Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 2 min read Updated Jul 2026

Gtap to play

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Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Courtesy of the Red White and Blue Chords – Guitar

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

Courtesy of the Red White and Blue Chords – Ukulele

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

Courtesy of the Red White and Blue Chords – Piano

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

Courtesy of the Red White and Blue Chords – Banjo

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

Courtesy of the Red White and Blue Chords – Mandolin

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

Courtesy of the Red White and Blue Chords – Harmonica

Toby Keith’s patriotic anthem about American resilience and response. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Chords used: G, C, D, Em · Key: G · Difficulty: Beginner

Driving Country (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 as written.

Chords & Structure

Full Song

Verse 1

G – C

G – D

G – C – G – D (×2)

Verse 2

G – C

G – D

G – C – G – D

G – C

G – D – G – D

Chorus

C – G

D – Em

C – G

D – G – A

Verse 3

G – C

G – D

G – C – G – D (×3)

Chorus

C – G

D – Em

C – G

D – G – A

Bridge

Em – C – G

D – Em – C

G – D

G – C – G

D – G – C

G – D – G – C

Chorus

C – G

D – Em

C – G

D – G (×2)

Practice tip: The chorus changes slightly at the end. Practice the final chorus separately to nail the iconic “boot in your ass” line and its chord progression.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue"?

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

Is "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue" 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 "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue"?

It was written by Toby Keith, and released in 2002.