John Denver’s love letter to West Virginia is one of the most singable songs ever written. Four open chords and a happy, bouncing rhythm make it perfect for group singalongs.
Strumming Pattern (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Let the bass notes ring on beat 1. For G, emphasize the low E string. For Em, hit the open low E. This gives the song its warm, full-bodied country sound.
How to play
Step-by-Step Guide
1
Learn the four chords
You need G, Em, D, and C. The whole song uses just these four in a predictable pattern.
2
Get the rhythm
This is a bright, bouncy 4/4 strum. Emphasize the downbeats and keep the up-strums light. The tempo is moderate, around 80 BPM.
3
Learn the verse pattern
Verse: G-Em-D-C-G. Pre-chorus: Em-D-G. Each chord gets a full bar. The changes are smooth and predictable.
4
Belt out the chorus
The chorus is where everyone sings along. G-D-Em-C-G. Strum bigger and let your voice soar on “Country roads, take me home.”
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song — Guitar Version
Verse 1
GEm
Almost heaven, West Virginia
DCG
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
GEm
Life is old there, older than the trees
DCG
Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze
Chorus
GD
Country roads, take me home
EmC
To the place I belong
GD
West Virginia, mountain mama
CG
Take me home, country roads
Verse 2
GEm
All my memories gather round her
DCG
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
GEm
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
DCG
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye
Practice tip: This is a perfect singalong song. Once you can play the verse and chorus, grab a friend and sing it together. The joy of this song is in sharing it.
Gtap to play
Emtap to play
Dtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
G · Em · D · C
Take Me Home, Country Roads Chords – Ukulele
John Denver’s love letter to West Virginia is one of the most singable songs ever written. Four open chords and a happy, bouncing rhythm make it perfect for group singalongs.
Strumming Pattern (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Let the bass notes ring on beat 1. For G, emphasize the low E string. For Em, hit the open low E. This gives the song its warm, full-bodied country sound.
How to play
Step-by-Step Guide
1
Learn the four chords
You need G, Em, D, and C. The whole song uses just these four in a predictable pattern.
2
Get the rhythm
This is a bright, bouncy 4/4 strum. Emphasize the downbeats and keep the up-strums light. The tempo is moderate, around 80 BPM.
3
Learn the verse pattern
Verse: G-Em-D-C-G. Pre-chorus: Em-D-G. Each chord gets a full bar. The changes are smooth and predictable.
4
Belt out the chorus
The chorus is where everyone sings along. G-D-Em-C-G. Strum bigger and let your voice soar on “Country roads, take me home.”
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song — Ukulele Version
Verse 1
GEm
Almost heaven, West Virginia
DCG
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
GEm
Life is old there, older than the trees
DCG
Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze
Chorus
GD
Country roads, take me home
EmC
To the place I belong
GD
West Virginia, mountain mama
CG
Take me home, country roads
Verse 2
GEm
All my memories gather round her
DCG
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
GEm
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
DCG
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye
Practice tip: This is a perfect singalong song. Once you can play the verse and chorus, grab a friend and sing it together. The joy of this song is in sharing it.
Gtap to play
Emtap to play
Dtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
G · Em · D · C
Take Me Home, Country Roads Chords – Piano
John Denver’s love letter to West Virginia is one of the most singable songs ever written. Four open chords and a happy, bouncing rhythm make it perfect for group singalongs.
Strumming Pattern (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Let the bass notes ring on beat 1. For G, emphasize the low E string. For Em, hit the open low E. This gives the song its warm, full-bodied country sound.
How to play
Step-by-Step Guide
1
Learn the four chords
You need G, Em, D, and C. The whole song uses just these four in a predictable pattern.
2
Get the rhythm
This is a bright, bouncy 4/4 strum. Emphasize the downbeats and keep the up-strums light. The tempo is moderate, around 80 BPM.
3
Learn the verse pattern
Verse: G-Em-D-C-G. Pre-chorus: Em-D-G. Each chord gets a full bar. The changes are smooth and predictable.
4
Belt out the chorus
The chorus is where everyone sings along. G-D-Em-C-G. Strum bigger and let your voice soar on “Country roads, take me home.”
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song — Piano Version
Verse 1
GEm
Almost heaven, West Virginia
DCG
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
GEm
Life is old there, older than the trees
DCG
Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze
Chorus
GD
Country roads, take me home
EmC
To the place I belong
GD
West Virginia, mountain mama
CG
Take me home, country roads
Verse 2
GEm
All my memories gather round her
DCG
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
GEm
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
DCG
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye
Practice tip: This is a perfect singalong song. Once you can play the verse and chorus, grab a friend and sing it together. The joy of this song is in sharing it.
Gtap to play
Emtap to play
Dtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
G · Em · D · C
Take Me Home, Country Roads Chords – Banjo
John Denver’s love letter to West Virginia is one of the most singable songs ever written. Four open chords and a happy, bouncing rhythm make it perfect for group singalongs.
Strumming Pattern (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Let the bass notes ring on beat 1. For G, emphasize the low E string. For Em, hit the open low E. This gives the song its warm, full-bodied country sound.
How to play
Step-by-Step Guide
1
Learn the four chords
You need G, Em, D, and C. The whole song uses just these four in a predictable pattern.
2
Get the rhythm
This is a bright, bouncy 4/4 strum. Emphasize the downbeats and keep the up-strums light. The tempo is moderate, around 80 BPM.
3
Learn the verse pattern
Verse: G-Em-D-C-G. Pre-chorus: Em-D-G. Each chord gets a full bar. The changes are smooth and predictable.
4
Belt out the chorus
The chorus is where everyone sings along. G-D-Em-C-G. Strum bigger and let your voice soar on “Country roads, take me home.”
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song — Banjo Version
Verse 1
GEm
Almost heaven, West Virginia
DCG
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
GEm
Life is old there, older than the trees
DCG
Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze
Chorus
GD
Country roads, take me home
EmC
To the place I belong
GD
West Virginia, mountain mama
CG
Take me home, country roads
Verse 2
GEm
All my memories gather round her
DCG
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
GEm
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
DCG
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye
Practice tip: This is a perfect singalong song. Once you can play the verse and chorus, grab a friend and sing it together. The joy of this song is in sharing it.
Gtap to play
Emtap to play
Dtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
G · Em · D · C
Take Me Home, Country Roads Chords – Mandolin
John Denver’s love letter to West Virginia is one of the most singable songs ever written. Four open chords and a happy, bouncing rhythm make it perfect for group singalongs.
Strumming Pattern (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Let the bass notes ring on beat 1. For G, emphasize the low E string. For Em, hit the open low E. This gives the song its warm, full-bodied country sound.
How to play
Step-by-Step Guide
1
Learn the four chords
You need G, Em, D, and C. The whole song uses just these four in a predictable pattern.
2
Get the rhythm
This is a bright, bouncy 4/4 strum. Emphasize the downbeats and keep the up-strums light. The tempo is moderate, around 80 BPM.
3
Learn the verse pattern
Verse: G-Em-D-C-G. Pre-chorus: Em-D-G. Each chord gets a full bar. The changes are smooth and predictable.
4
Belt out the chorus
The chorus is where everyone sings along. G-D-Em-C-G. Strum bigger and let your voice soar on “Country roads, take me home.”
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song — Mandolin Version
Verse 1
GEm
Almost heaven, West Virginia
DCG
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
GEm
Life is old there, older than the trees
DCG
Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze
Chorus
GD
Country roads, take me home
EmC
To the place I belong
GD
West Virginia, mountain mama
CG
Take me home, country roads
Verse 2
GEm
All my memories gather round her
DCG
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
GEm
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
DCG
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye
Practice tip: This is a perfect singalong song. Once you can play the verse and chorus, grab a friend and sing it together. The joy of this song is in sharing it.
Gtap to play
Emtap to play
Dtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
G · Em · D · C
Take Me Home, Country Roads Chords – Harmonica
John Denver’s love letter to West Virginia is one of the most singable songs ever written. Four open chords and a happy, bouncing rhythm make it perfect for group singalongs.
Strumming Pattern (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Let the bass notes ring on beat 1. For G, emphasize the low E string. For Em, hit the open low E. This gives the song its warm, full-bodied country sound.
How to play
Step-by-Step Guide
1
Learn the four chords
You need G, Em, D, and C. The whole song uses just these four in a predictable pattern.
2
Get the rhythm
This is a bright, bouncy 4/4 strum. Emphasize the downbeats and keep the up-strums light. The tempo is moderate, around 80 BPM.
3
Learn the verse pattern
Verse: G-Em-D-C-G. Pre-chorus: Em-D-G. Each chord gets a full bar. The changes are smooth and predictable.
4
Belt out the chorus
The chorus is where everyone sings along. G-D-Em-C-G. Strum bigger and let your voice soar on “Country roads, take me home.”
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song — Harmonica Version
Verse 1
GEm
Almost heaven, West Virginia
DCG
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
GEm
Life is old there, older than the trees
DCG
Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze
Chorus
GD
Country roads, take me home
EmC
To the place I belong
GD
West Virginia, mountain mama
CG
Take me home, country roads
Verse 2
GEm
All my memories gather round her
DCG
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
GEm
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
DCG
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye
Practice tip: This is a perfect singalong song. Once you can play the verse and chorus, grab a friend and sing it together. The joy of this song is in sharing it.
Gtap to play
Emtap to play
Dtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
G · Em · D · C
Take Me Home, Country Roads Chords – Violin
John Denver’s love letter to West Virginia is one of the most singable songs ever written. Four open chords and a happy, bouncing rhythm make it perfect for group singalongs.
Strumming Pattern (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Let the bass notes ring on beat 1. For G, emphasize the low E string. For Em, hit the open low E. This gives the song its warm, full-bodied country sound.
How to play
Step-by-Step Guide
1
Learn the four chords
You need G, Em, D, and C. The whole song uses just these four in a predictable pattern.
2
Get the rhythm
This is a bright, bouncy 4/4 strum. Emphasize the downbeats and keep the up-strums light. The tempo is moderate, around 80 BPM.
3
Learn the verse pattern
Verse: G-Em-D-C-G. Pre-chorus: Em-D-G. Each chord gets a full bar. The changes are smooth and predictable.
4
Belt out the chorus
The chorus is where everyone sings along. G-D-Em-C-G. Strum bigger and let your voice soar on “Country roads, take me home.”
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song — Violin Version
Verse 1
GEm
Almost heaven, West Virginia
DCG
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
GEm
Life is old there, older than the trees
DCG
Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze
Chorus
GD
Country roads, take me home
EmC
To the place I belong
GD
West Virginia, mountain mama
CG
Take me home, country roads
Verse 2
GEm
All my memories gather round her
DCG
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
GEm
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
DCG
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye
Practice tip: This is a perfect singalong song. Once you can play the verse and chorus, grab a friend and sing it together. The joy of this song is in sharing it.