Gtap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
G
Difficulty
Beginner
Capo
None
Chords
G · D · Em · C
Wake Me Up When September Ends Chords – Guitar
Gtap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
G
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
G · D · Em · C
Wake Me Up When September Ends Chords – Ukulele
Gtap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
G
Difficulty
Beginner
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
G · D · Em · C
Wake Me Up When September Ends Chords – Piano
Gtap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
G
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
G · D · Em · C
Wake Me Up When September Ends Chords – Banjo
Gtap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
G
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
G · D · Em · C
Wake Me Up When September Ends Chords – Mandolin
Gtap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
G
Difficulty
Beginner
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
G · D · Em · C
Wake Me Up When September Ends Chords – Harmonica
Green Day’s poignant ballad about loss and the passage of time. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.
Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
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Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, while still playing the G major chord shapes shown.
Chords & Structure
Full Song
Verse 1
G – C – G
C – G
D – C – G
Chorus
Em – C
G – D
Em – C – G
Verse 2
G – C – G
C – G
D – C
G
Chorus
Em – C
G – D
Em – C – G
Bridge
C – G – D
Em – C
D – C – G
Guitar Solo / Outro Verse
G – C – G
C – G
D – C – G
Chorus
Em – C
G – D
Em – C – G (×3)
Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout; master switching between these four chords before adding the strum pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Wake Me Up When September Ends"?
You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, D, Em and C.
Is "Wake Me Up When September Ends" 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 "Wake Me Up When September Ends" in?
It is in the key of G.
Who wrote "Wake Me Up When September Ends"?
It was written by Billie Joe Armstrong, and released in 2004.