Country, Folk

The Way Things Go Chords

Zach Bryan Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 3 min read

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A reflective folk song by Zach Bryan about accepting life’s unpredictable journey. 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, while still using these G-based chord shapes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

I remember the days when the sun would stay

D C G

Up until the clock struck nine

G C G

And I remember the way that you’d look at me

D C G

When you said you’d be mine all mine

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Verse 2

G C G

I remember the nights when the moon was bright

D C G

And we’d talk until the morning light

G C G

And I remember the sound of the rain on the roof

D C G

When we had our first big old fight

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Bridge

Em C G

I’ve been searchin’ for an answer

D C G

In the bottom of a glass or a song

Em C G

But the more I keep on lookin’

D C G

The more I see I’ve been wrong

Verse 3

G C G

Now I see the sunset on the prairie line

D C G

And I think of how the time has flown

G C G

And I know that the love we had was real and true

D C G

But I also know I’m here on my own

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Outro

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G D

Yeah, I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

G

Let it be

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout. Practice switching between G and C, as it’s the most common transition in the song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A reflective folk song by Zach Bryan about accepting life’s unpredictable journey. 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, while still using these G-based chord shapes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

I remember the days when the sun would stay

D C G

Up until the clock struck nine

G C G

And I remember the way that you’d look at me

D C G

When you said you’d be mine all mine

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Verse 2

G C G

I remember the nights when the moon was bright

D C G

And we’d talk until the morning light

G C G

And I remember the sound of the rain on the roof

D C G

When we had our first big old fight

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Bridge

Em C G

I’ve been searchin’ for an answer

D C G

In the bottom of a glass or a song

Em C G

But the more I keep on lookin’

D C G

The more I see I’ve been wrong

Verse 3

G C G

Now I see the sunset on the prairie line

D C G

And I think of how the time has flown

G C G

And I know that the love we had was real and true

D C G

But I also know I’m here on my own

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Outro

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G D

Yeah, I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

G

Let it be

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout. Practice switching between G and C, as it’s the most common transition in the song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A reflective folk song by Zach Bryan about accepting life’s unpredictable journey. 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, while still using these G-based chord shapes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

I remember the days when the sun would stay

D C G

Up until the clock struck nine

G C G

And I remember the way that you’d look at me

D C G

When you said you’d be mine all mine

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Verse 2

G C G

I remember the nights when the moon was bright

D C G

And we’d talk until the morning light

G C G

And I remember the sound of the rain on the roof

D C G

When we had our first big old fight

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Bridge

Em C G

I’ve been searchin’ for an answer

D C G

In the bottom of a glass or a song

Em C G

But the more I keep on lookin’

D C G

The more I see I’ve been wrong

Verse 3

G C G

Now I see the sunset on the prairie line

D C G

And I think of how the time has flown

G C G

And I know that the love we had was real and true

D C G

But I also know I’m here on my own

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Outro

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G D

Yeah, I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

G

Let it be

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout. Practice switching between G and C, as it’s the most common transition in the song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A reflective folk song by Zach Bryan about accepting life’s unpredictable journey. 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, while still using these G-based chord shapes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

I remember the days when the sun would stay

D C G

Up until the clock struck nine

G C G

And I remember the way that you’d look at me

D C G

When you said you’d be mine all mine

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Verse 2

G C G

I remember the nights when the moon was bright

D C G

And we’d talk until the morning light

G C G

And I remember the sound of the rain on the roof

D C G

When we had our first big old fight

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Bridge

Em C G

I’ve been searchin’ for an answer

D C G

In the bottom of a glass or a song

Em C G

But the more I keep on lookin’

D C G

The more I see I’ve been wrong

Verse 3

G C G

Now I see the sunset on the prairie line

D C G

And I think of how the time has flown

G C G

And I know that the love we had was real and true

D C G

But I also know I’m here on my own

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Outro

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G D

Yeah, I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

G

Let it be

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout. Practice switching between G and C, as it’s the most common transition in the song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A reflective folk song by Zach Bryan about accepting life’s unpredictable journey. 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, while still using these G-based chord shapes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

I remember the days when the sun would stay

D C G

Up until the clock struck nine

G C G

And I remember the way that you’d look at me

D C G

When you said you’d be mine all mine

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Verse 2

G C G

I remember the nights when the moon was bright

D C G

And we’d talk until the morning light

G C G

And I remember the sound of the rain on the roof

D C G

When we had our first big old fight

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Bridge

Em C G

I’ve been searchin’ for an answer

D C G

In the bottom of a glass or a song

Em C G

But the more I keep on lookin’

D C G

The more I see I’ve been wrong

Verse 3

G C G

Now I see the sunset on the prairie line

D C G

And I think of how the time has flown

G C G

And I know that the love we had was real and true

D C G

But I also know I’m here on my own

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Outro

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G D

Yeah, I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

G

Let it be

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout. Practice switching between G and C, as it’s the most common transition in the song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A reflective folk song by Zach Bryan about accepting life’s unpredictable journey. 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, while still using these G-based chord shapes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

I remember the days when the sun would stay

D C G

Up until the clock struck nine

G C G

And I remember the way that you’d look at me

D C G

When you said you’d be mine all mine

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Verse 2

G C G

I remember the nights when the moon was bright

D C G

And we’d talk until the morning light

G C G

And I remember the sound of the rain on the roof

D C G

When we had our first big old fight

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Bridge

Em C G

I’ve been searchin’ for an answer

D C G

In the bottom of a glass or a song

Em C G

But the more I keep on lookin’

D C G

The more I see I’ve been wrong

Verse 3

G C G

Now I see the sunset on the prairie line

D C G

And I think of how the time has flown

G C G

And I know that the love we had was real and true

D C G

But I also know I’m here on my own

Chorus

C G

And that’s just the way things go

D C G

Fast and then they go real slow

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G

And that’s just the way things are

D C G

Close and then so dang far

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

Outro

C G D

And I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

C G D

Yeah, I’ve been learnin’ how to let it be

G

Let it be

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout. Practice switching between G and C, as it’s the most common transition in the song.