Country, Pop

What Hurts the Most Chords

Rascal Flatts 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

What Hurts the Most Chords – Guitar

Rascal Flatts’ poignant country-pop ballad about the pain of a lost love and unspoken words. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 4th fret to match the original recording’s key of B, while still playing the easier G, C, D, and Em shapes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house

D

That don’t bother me

G C G

I can take a few tears now and then and just let ’em out

D Em

I’m not afraid to cry every once in a while

C D

Even though goin’ on with you gone still upsets me

G C G D

There are days every now and again I pretend I’m okay

G C

But that’s not what gets me

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Verse 2

G C G

It’s hard to deal with the pain of losing you everywhere I go

D

But I’m doin’ it

G C G

It’s hard to force that smile when I see our old friends and I’m alone

D Em C

Still harder gettin’ up, gettin’ dressed, livin’ with this regret

D

But I know if I could do it over

G C G D

I would trade, give away all the words that I saved in my heart that I left unsaid

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Bridge

Em

Oh, oh, oh

C

Oh, oh, oh

D

Oh, oh, oh

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Outro

G C

Not seeing that lovin’ you

G D

That’s what I was tryin’ to do

G

Oh…

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

What Hurts the Most Chords – Ukulele

Rascal Flatts’ poignant country-pop ballad about the pain of a lost love and unspoken words. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 4th fret to match the original recording’s key of B, while still playing the easier G, C, D, and Em shapes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house

D

That don’t bother me

G C G

I can take a few tears now and then and just let ’em out

D Em

I’m not afraid to cry every once in a while

C D

Even though goin’ on with you gone still upsets me

G C G D

There are days every now and again I pretend I’m okay

G C

But that’s not what gets me

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Verse 2

G C G

It’s hard to deal with the pain of losing you everywhere I go

D

But I’m doin’ it

G C G

It’s hard to force that smile when I see our old friends and I’m alone

D Em C

Still harder gettin’ up, gettin’ dressed, livin’ with this regret

D

But I know if I could do it over

G C G D

I would trade, give away all the words that I saved in my heart that I left unsaid

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Bridge

Em

Oh, oh, oh

C

Oh, oh, oh

D

Oh, oh, oh

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Outro

G C

Not seeing that lovin’ you

G D

That’s what I was tryin’ to do

G

Oh…

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

What Hurts the Most Chords – Piano

Rascal Flatts’ poignant country-pop ballad about the pain of a lost love and unspoken words. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 4th fret to match the original recording’s key of B, while still playing the easier G, C, D, and Em shapes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house

D

That don’t bother me

G C G

I can take a few tears now and then and just let ’em out

D Em

I’m not afraid to cry every once in a while

C D

Even though goin’ on with you gone still upsets me

G C G D

There are days every now and again I pretend I’m okay

G C

But that’s not what gets me

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Verse 2

G C G

It’s hard to deal with the pain of losing you everywhere I go

D

But I’m doin’ it

G C G

It’s hard to force that smile when I see our old friends and I’m alone

D Em C

Still harder gettin’ up, gettin’ dressed, livin’ with this regret

D

But I know if I could do it over

G C G D

I would trade, give away all the words that I saved in my heart that I left unsaid

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Bridge

Em

Oh, oh, oh

C

Oh, oh, oh

D

Oh, oh, oh

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Outro

G C

Not seeing that lovin’ you

G D

That’s what I was tryin’ to do

G

Oh…

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

What Hurts the Most Chords – Banjo

Rascal Flatts’ poignant country-pop ballad about the pain of a lost love and unspoken words. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 4th fret to match the original recording’s key of B, while still playing the easier G, C, D, and Em shapes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house

D

That don’t bother me

G C G

I can take a few tears now and then and just let ’em out

D Em

I’m not afraid to cry every once in a while

C D

Even though goin’ on with you gone still upsets me

G C G D

There are days every now and again I pretend I’m okay

G C

But that’s not what gets me

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Verse 2

G C G

It’s hard to deal with the pain of losing you everywhere I go

D

But I’m doin’ it

G C G

It’s hard to force that smile when I see our old friends and I’m alone

D Em C

Still harder gettin’ up, gettin’ dressed, livin’ with this regret

D

But I know if I could do it over

G C G D

I would trade, give away all the words that I saved in my heart that I left unsaid

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Bridge

Em

Oh, oh, oh

C

Oh, oh, oh

D

Oh, oh, oh

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Outro

G C

Not seeing that lovin’ you

G D

That’s what I was tryin’ to do

G

Oh…

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

What Hurts the Most Chords – Mandolin

Rascal Flatts’ poignant country-pop ballad about the pain of a lost love and unspoken words. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 4th fret to match the original recording’s key of B, while still playing the easier G, C, D, and Em shapes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house

D

That don’t bother me

G C G

I can take a few tears now and then and just let ’em out

D Em

I’m not afraid to cry every once in a while

C D

Even though goin’ on with you gone still upsets me

G C G D

There are days every now and again I pretend I’m okay

G C

But that’s not what gets me

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Verse 2

G C G

It’s hard to deal with the pain of losing you everywhere I go

D

But I’m doin’ it

G C G

It’s hard to force that smile when I see our old friends and I’m alone

D Em C

Still harder gettin’ up, gettin’ dressed, livin’ with this regret

D

But I know if I could do it over

G C G D

I would trade, give away all the words that I saved in my heart that I left unsaid

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Bridge

Em

Oh, oh, oh

C

Oh, oh, oh

D

Oh, oh, oh

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Outro

G C

Not seeing that lovin’ you

G D

That’s what I was tryin’ to do

G

Oh…

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

What Hurts the Most Chords – Harmonica

Rascal Flatts’ poignant country-pop ballad about the pain of a lost love and unspoken words. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 4th fret to match the original recording’s key of B, while still playing the easier G, C, D, and Em shapes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house

D

That don’t bother me

G C G

I can take a few tears now and then and just let ’em out

D Em

I’m not afraid to cry every once in a while

C D

Even though goin’ on with you gone still upsets me

G C G D

There are days every now and again I pretend I’m okay

G C

But that’s not what gets me

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Verse 2

G C G

It’s hard to deal with the pain of losing you everywhere I go

D

But I’m doin’ it

G C G

It’s hard to force that smile when I see our old friends and I’m alone

D Em C

Still harder gettin’ up, gettin’ dressed, livin’ with this regret

D

But I know if I could do it over

G C G D

I would trade, give away all the words that I saved in my heart that I left unsaid

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Bridge

Em

Oh, oh, oh

C

Oh, oh, oh

D

Oh, oh, oh

Chorus

G

What hurts the most

C

Was being so close

G

And having so much to say

D

And watching you walk away

G

And never knowing

C

What could have been

G

And not seeing that lovin’ you

D

Is what I was tryin’ to do

Outro

G C

Not seeing that lovin’ you

G D

That’s what I was tryin’ to do

G

Oh…

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