Gtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G
Difficulty
Beginner
Capo
None
Chords
G · C · D · Em
What Hurts the Most Chords – Guitar
Gtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
G · C · D · Em
What Hurts the Most Chords – Ukulele
Gtap to play
Ctap to play
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Key
G
Difficulty
Beginner
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
G · C · D · Em
What Hurts the Most Chords – Piano
Gtap to play
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Key
G
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
G · C · D · Em
What Hurts the Most Chords – Banjo
Gtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
G · C · D · Em
What Hurts the Most Chords – Mandolin
Gtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G
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)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
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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.
Chords & Structure
Full Song
Verse 1
G – C – G
D
G – C – G
D – Em
C – D
G – C – G – D
G – C
Chorus
G
C
G
D
G
C
G
D
Verse 2
G – C – G
D
G – C – G
D – Em – C
D
G – C – G – D
Chorus
G
C
G
D
G
C
G
D
Bridge
Em
C
D
Chorus
G
C
G
D
G
C
G
D
Outro
G – C
G – D
G
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "What Hurts the Most"?
You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.
Is "What Hurts the Most" 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 "What Hurts the Most" in?
It is in the key of G.
Who wrote "What Hurts the Most"?
It was written by Steve Robson, Jeffrey Steele, and released in 2006.