Country, Rock

Hurt Chords

Johnny Cash Beginner Key of C 5 Chords 3 min read Updated Jul 2026

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Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

Am · C · D · G · F

Hurt Chords – Guitar

Johnny Cash’s deeply moving final masterpiece about pain, regret, and redemption. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Dark Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑

1234

Tip: Play with stark simplicity. Johnny Cash’s version is bare and haunting — let each chord ring out in the silence. Less is everything in this song.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am C

I hurt myself today

D Am

To see if I still feel

Am C

I focus on the pain

D Am

The only thing that’s real

Am C

The needle tears a hole

D Am

The old familiar sting

Am C

Try to kill it all away

D G

But I remember everything

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Verse 2

Am C

I wear this crown of thorns

D Am

Upon my liar’s chair

Am C

Full of broken thoughts

D Am

I cannot repair

Am C

Beneath the stains of time

D Am

The feelings disappear

Am C

You are someone else

D G

I am still right here

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Outro

Am F

If I could start again

G Am

A million miles away

Am F

I would keep myself

G Am

I would find a way

Practice tip: The Am-C-D verse and Am-F-C-G chorus are simple but devastating. The power is in restraint — play as quietly and deliberately as possible. Let the silence between chords speak.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Hurt"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: Am, C, D, G and F.

Is "Hurt" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Hurt" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Hurt"?

It was written by Trent Reznor, and released in 2002.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

Am · C · D · G · F

Hurt Chords – Ukulele

Johnny Cash’s deeply moving final masterpiece about pain, regret, and redemption. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Dark Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑

1234

Tip: Play with stark simplicity. Johnny Cash’s version is bare and haunting — let each chord ring out in the silence. Less is everything in this song.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am C

I hurt myself today

D Am

To see if I still feel

Am C

I focus on the pain

D Am

The only thing that’s real

Am C

The needle tears a hole

D Am

The old familiar sting

Am C

Try to kill it all away

D G

But I remember everything

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Verse 2

Am C

I wear this crown of thorns

D Am

Upon my liar’s chair

Am C

Full of broken thoughts

D Am

I cannot repair

Am C

Beneath the stains of time

D Am

The feelings disappear

Am C

You are someone else

D G

I am still right here

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Outro

Am F

If I could start again

G Am

A million miles away

Am F

I would keep myself

G Am

I would find a way

Practice tip: The Am-C-D verse and Am-F-C-G chorus are simple but devastating. The power is in restraint — play as quietly and deliberately as possible. Let the silence between chords speak.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Hurt"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: Am, C, D, G and F.

Is "Hurt" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Hurt" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Hurt"?

It was written by Trent Reznor, and released in 2002.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

Am · C · D · G · F

Hurt Chords – Piano

Johnny Cash’s deeply moving final masterpiece about pain, regret, and redemption. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Dark Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑

1234

Tip: Play with stark simplicity. Johnny Cash’s version is bare and haunting — let each chord ring out in the silence. Less is everything in this song.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am C

I hurt myself today

D Am

To see if I still feel

Am C

I focus on the pain

D Am

The only thing that’s real

Am C

The needle tears a hole

D Am

The old familiar sting

Am C

Try to kill it all away

D G

But I remember everything

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Verse 2

Am C

I wear this crown of thorns

D Am

Upon my liar’s chair

Am C

Full of broken thoughts

D Am

I cannot repair

Am C

Beneath the stains of time

D Am

The feelings disappear

Am C

You are someone else

D G

I am still right here

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Outro

Am F

If I could start again

G Am

A million miles away

Am F

I would keep myself

G Am

I would find a way

Practice tip: The Am-C-D verse and Am-F-C-G chorus are simple but devastating. The power is in restraint — play as quietly and deliberately as possible. Let the silence between chords speak.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Hurt"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: Am, C, D, G and F.

Is "Hurt" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Hurt" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Hurt"?

It was written by Trent Reznor, and released in 2002.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

Am · C · D · G · F

Hurt Chords – Banjo

Johnny Cash’s deeply moving final masterpiece about pain, regret, and redemption. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Dark Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑

1234

Tip: Play with stark simplicity. Johnny Cash’s version is bare and haunting — let each chord ring out in the silence. Less is everything in this song.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am C

I hurt myself today

D Am

To see if I still feel

Am C

I focus on the pain

D Am

The only thing that’s real

Am C

The needle tears a hole

D Am

The old familiar sting

Am C

Try to kill it all away

D G

But I remember everything

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Verse 2

Am C

I wear this crown of thorns

D Am

Upon my liar’s chair

Am C

Full of broken thoughts

D Am

I cannot repair

Am C

Beneath the stains of time

D Am

The feelings disappear

Am C

You are someone else

D G

I am still right here

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Outro

Am F

If I could start again

G Am

A million miles away

Am F

I would keep myself

G Am

I would find a way

Practice tip: The Am-C-D verse and Am-F-C-G chorus are simple but devastating. The power is in restraint — play as quietly and deliberately as possible. Let the silence between chords speak.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Hurt"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: Am, C, D, G and F.

Is "Hurt" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Hurt" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Hurt"?

It was written by Trent Reznor, and released in 2002.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

Am · C · D · G · F

Hurt Chords – Mandolin

Johnny Cash’s deeply moving final masterpiece about pain, regret, and redemption. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Dark Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑

1234

Tip: Play with stark simplicity. Johnny Cash’s version is bare and haunting — let each chord ring out in the silence. Less is everything in this song.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am C

I hurt myself today

D Am

To see if I still feel

Am C

I focus on the pain

D Am

The only thing that’s real

Am C

The needle tears a hole

D Am

The old familiar sting

Am C

Try to kill it all away

D G

But I remember everything

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Verse 2

Am C

I wear this crown of thorns

D Am

Upon my liar’s chair

Am C

Full of broken thoughts

D Am

I cannot repair

Am C

Beneath the stains of time

D Am

The feelings disappear

Am C

You are someone else

D G

I am still right here

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Outro

Am F

If I could start again

G Am

A million miles away

Am F

I would keep myself

G Am

I would find a way

Practice tip: The Am-C-D verse and Am-F-C-G chorus are simple but devastating. The power is in restraint — play as quietly and deliberately as possible. Let the silence between chords speak.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Hurt"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: Am, C, D, G and F.

Is "Hurt" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Hurt" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Hurt"?

It was written by Trent Reznor, and released in 2002.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

Am · C · D · G · F

Hurt Chords – Harmonica

Johnny Cash’s deeply moving final masterpiece about pain, regret, and redemption. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Dark Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑

1234

Tip: Play with stark simplicity. Johnny Cash’s version is bare and haunting — let each chord ring out in the silence. Less is everything in this song.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am C

I hurt myself today

D Am

To see if I still feel

Am C

I focus on the pain

D Am

The only thing that’s real

Am C

The needle tears a hole

D Am

The old familiar sting

Am C

Try to kill it all away

D G

But I remember everything

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Verse 2

Am C

I wear this crown of thorns

D Am

Upon my liar’s chair

Am C

Full of broken thoughts

D Am

I cannot repair

Am C

Beneath the stains of time

D Am

The feelings disappear

Am C

You are someone else

D G

I am still right here

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Outro

Am F

If I could start again

G Am

A million miles away

Am F

I would keep myself

G Am

I would find a way

Practice tip: The Am-C-D verse and Am-F-C-G chorus are simple but devastating. The power is in restraint — play as quietly and deliberately as possible. Let the silence between chords speak.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Hurt"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: Am, C, D, G and F.

Is "Hurt" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Hurt" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Hurt"?

It was written by Trent Reznor, and released in 2002.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Range

Varies by singer

Chords

Am · C · D · G · F

Hurt Chords – Vocal

Johnny Cash’s deeply moving final masterpiece about pain, regret, and redemption. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Dark Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑

1234

Tip: Play with stark simplicity. Johnny Cash’s version is bare and haunting — let each chord ring out in the silence. Less is everything in this song.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am C

I hurt myself today

D Am

To see if I still feel

Am C

I focus on the pain

D Am

The only thing that’s real

Am C

The needle tears a hole

D Am

The old familiar sting

Am C

Try to kill it all away

D G

But I remember everything

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Verse 2

Am C

I wear this crown of thorns

D Am

Upon my liar’s chair

Am C

Full of broken thoughts

D Am

I cannot repair

Am C

Beneath the stains of time

D Am

The feelings disappear

Am C

You are someone else

D G

I am still right here

Chorus

Am F

What have I become?

C G

My sweetest friend

Am F

Everyone I know

C G

Goes away in the end

Am F

And you could have it all

G

My empire of dirt

Am F

I will let you down

G Am

I will make you hurt

Outro

Am F

If I could start again

G Am

A million miles away

Am F

I would keep myself

G Am

I would find a way

Practice tip: The Am-C-D verse and Am-F-C-G chorus are simple but devastating. The power is in restraint — play as quietly and deliberately as possible. Let the silence between chords speak.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Hurt"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: Am, C, D, G and F.

Is "Hurt" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Hurt" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Hurt"?

It was written by Trent Reznor, and released in 2002.