Rock

Yellow Ledbetter Chords

Pearl Jam Beginner Key of E 4 Chords 3 min read Updated Jul 2026

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Key

E

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

Em · G · A · D

Yellow Ledbetter Chords – Guitar

Pearl Jam’s atmospheric and improvisational rock ballad known for its emotive guitar work and often mumbled lyrics. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Slow Rock Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a loose, flowing feel; focus on the chord changes and let the strumming be relaxed.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E

Unsealed on a porch a letter sat

A

Then you said I wanna leave it again

E

Once I saw her on a beach of weathered sand

A

And on the sand I wanna leave it again, yeah

Verse 2

E

On a weekend wanna wish it all away

A

And they called and I said that I want what I said

E

And then I call out again

A

And the reason oughtta leave her calm, I know

Chorus

E

I said I don’t know whether I’m the boxer or the bag

A

Oh yeah, can you see them?

E

Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

A

I see them

E

’Round the front way, yeah

A

And I know and I know I don’t want to stay

Verse 3

E

Make me cry

A

I see

E

I don’t know why there’s something else

A

I wanna drum it all away

Chorus

E

I said I don’t know whether I’m the boxer or the bag

A

Oh yeah, can you see them?

E

Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

A

I see them

E

’Round the front way, yeah

A

And I know and I know I don’t want to stay

Bridge

E

I said

A

I don’t wanna stay

E

I don’t wanna stay

A

I don’t wanna stay

Outro

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

I don’t wanna stay

Practice tip: The entire song uses just two chords, E and A. Practice switching between them cleanly and experiment with adding the occasional single-note guitar lick in the E minor pentatonic scale to mimic the song’s vibe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Yellow Ledbetter"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: Em, G, A and D.

Is "Yellow Ledbetter" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Yellow Ledbetter" in?

It is in the key of E.

Who wrote "Yellow Ledbetter"?

It was written by Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Jeff Ament, and released in 1992.

Emtap to play

Gtap to play

Atap to play

Dtap to play

Key

E

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

Em · G · A · D

Yellow Ledbetter Chords – Ukulele

Pearl Jam’s atmospheric and improvisational rock ballad known for its emotive guitar work and often mumbled lyrics. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Slow Rock Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a loose, flowing feel; focus on the chord changes and let the strumming be relaxed.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E

Unsealed on a porch a letter sat

A

Then you said I wanna leave it again

E

Once I saw her on a beach of weathered sand

A

And on the sand I wanna leave it again, yeah

Verse 2

E

On a weekend wanna wish it all away

A

And they called and I said that I want what I said

E

And then I call out again

A

And the reason oughtta leave her calm, I know

Chorus

E

I said I don’t know whether I’m the boxer or the bag

A

Oh yeah, can you see them?

E

Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

A

I see them

E

’Round the front way, yeah

A

And I know and I know I don’t want to stay

Verse 3

E

Make me cry

A

I see

E

I don’t know why there’s something else

A

I wanna drum it all away

Chorus

E

I said I don’t know whether I’m the boxer or the bag

A

Oh yeah, can you see them?

E

Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

A

I see them

E

’Round the front way, yeah

A

And I know and I know I don’t want to stay

Bridge

E

I said

A

I don’t wanna stay

E

I don’t wanna stay

A

I don’t wanna stay

Outro

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

I don’t wanna stay

Practice tip: The entire song uses just two chords, E and A. Practice switching between them cleanly and experiment with adding the occasional single-note guitar lick in the E minor pentatonic scale to mimic the song’s vibe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Yellow Ledbetter"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: Em, G, A and D.

Is "Yellow Ledbetter" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Yellow Ledbetter" in?

It is in the key of E.

Who wrote "Yellow Ledbetter"?

It was written by Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Jeff Ament, and released in 1992.

Emtap to play

Gtap to play

Atap to play

Dtap to play

Key

E

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

Em · G · A · D

Yellow Ledbetter Chords – Piano

Pearl Jam’s atmospheric and improvisational rock ballad known for its emotive guitar work and often mumbled lyrics. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Slow Rock Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a loose, flowing feel; focus on the chord changes and let the strumming be relaxed.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E

Unsealed on a porch a letter sat

A

Then you said I wanna leave it again

E

Once I saw her on a beach of weathered sand

A

And on the sand I wanna leave it again, yeah

Verse 2

E

On a weekend wanna wish it all away

A

And they called and I said that I want what I said

E

And then I call out again

A

And the reason oughtta leave her calm, I know

Chorus

E

I said I don’t know whether I’m the boxer or the bag

A

Oh yeah, can you see them?

E

Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

A

I see them

E

’Round the front way, yeah

A

And I know and I know I don’t want to stay

Verse 3

E

Make me cry

A

I see

E

I don’t know why there’s something else

A

I wanna drum it all away

Chorus

E

I said I don’t know whether I’m the boxer or the bag

A

Oh yeah, can you see them?

E

Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

A

I see them

E

’Round the front way, yeah

A

And I know and I know I don’t want to stay

Bridge

E

I said

A

I don’t wanna stay

E

I don’t wanna stay

A

I don’t wanna stay

Outro

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

I don’t wanna stay

Practice tip: The entire song uses just two chords, E and A. Practice switching between them cleanly and experiment with adding the occasional single-note guitar lick in the E minor pentatonic scale to mimic the song’s vibe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Yellow Ledbetter"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: Em, G, A and D.

Is "Yellow Ledbetter" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Yellow Ledbetter" in?

It is in the key of E.

Who wrote "Yellow Ledbetter"?

It was written by Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Jeff Ament, and released in 1992.

Emtap to play

Gtap to play

Atap to play

Dtap to play

Key

E

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

Em · G · A · D

Yellow Ledbetter Chords – Banjo

Pearl Jam’s atmospheric and improvisational rock ballad known for its emotive guitar work and often mumbled lyrics. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Slow Rock Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a loose, flowing feel; focus on the chord changes and let the strumming be relaxed.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E

Unsealed on a porch a letter sat

A

Then you said I wanna leave it again

E

Once I saw her on a beach of weathered sand

A

And on the sand I wanna leave it again, yeah

Verse 2

E

On a weekend wanna wish it all away

A

And they called and I said that I want what I said

E

And then I call out again

A

And the reason oughtta leave her calm, I know

Chorus

E

I said I don’t know whether I’m the boxer or the bag

A

Oh yeah, can you see them?

E

Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

A

I see them

E

’Round the front way, yeah

A

And I know and I know I don’t want to stay

Verse 3

E

Make me cry

A

I see

E

I don’t know why there’s something else

A

I wanna drum it all away

Chorus

E

I said I don’t know whether I’m the boxer or the bag

A

Oh yeah, can you see them?

E

Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

A

I see them

E

’Round the front way, yeah

A

And I know and I know I don’t want to stay

Bridge

E

I said

A

I don’t wanna stay

E

I don’t wanna stay

A

I don’t wanna stay

Outro

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

I don’t wanna stay

Practice tip: The entire song uses just two chords, E and A. Practice switching between them cleanly and experiment with adding the occasional single-note guitar lick in the E minor pentatonic scale to mimic the song’s vibe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Yellow Ledbetter"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: Em, G, A and D.

Is "Yellow Ledbetter" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Yellow Ledbetter" in?

It is in the key of E.

Who wrote "Yellow Ledbetter"?

It was written by Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Jeff Ament, and released in 1992.

Emtap to play

Gtap to play

Atap to play

Dtap to play

Key

E

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

Em · G · A · D

Yellow Ledbetter Chords – Mandolin

Pearl Jam’s atmospheric and improvisational rock ballad known for its emotive guitar work and often mumbled lyrics. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Slow Rock Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a loose, flowing feel; focus on the chord changes and let the strumming be relaxed.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E

Unsealed on a porch a letter sat

A

Then you said I wanna leave it again

E

Once I saw her on a beach of weathered sand

A

And on the sand I wanna leave it again, yeah

Verse 2

E

On a weekend wanna wish it all away

A

And they called and I said that I want what I said

E

And then I call out again

A

And the reason oughtta leave her calm, I know

Chorus

E

I said I don’t know whether I’m the boxer or the bag

A

Oh yeah, can you see them?

E

Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

A

I see them

E

’Round the front way, yeah

A

And I know and I know I don’t want to stay

Verse 3

E

Make me cry

A

I see

E

I don’t know why there’s something else

A

I wanna drum it all away

Chorus

E

I said I don’t know whether I’m the boxer or the bag

A

Oh yeah, can you see them?

E

Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

A

I see them

E

’Round the front way, yeah

A

And I know and I know I don’t want to stay

Bridge

E

I said

A

I don’t wanna stay

E

I don’t wanna stay

A

I don’t wanna stay

Outro

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

I don’t wanna stay

Practice tip: The entire song uses just two chords, E and A. Practice switching between them cleanly and experiment with adding the occasional single-note guitar lick in the E minor pentatonic scale to mimic the song’s vibe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Yellow Ledbetter"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: Em, G, A and D.

Is "Yellow Ledbetter" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Yellow Ledbetter" in?

It is in the key of E.

Who wrote "Yellow Ledbetter"?

It was written by Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Jeff Ament, and released in 1992.

Emtap to play

Gtap to play

Atap to play

Dtap to play

Key

E

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

Em · G · A · D

Yellow Ledbetter Chords – Harmonica

Pearl Jam’s atmospheric and improvisational rock ballad known for its emotive guitar work and often mumbled lyrics. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Slow Rock Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a loose, flowing feel; focus on the chord changes and let the strumming be relaxed.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E

Unsealed on a porch a letter sat

A

Then you said I wanna leave it again

E

Once I saw her on a beach of weathered sand

A

And on the sand I wanna leave it again, yeah

Verse 2

E

On a weekend wanna wish it all away

A

And they called and I said that I want what I said

E

And then I call out again

A

And the reason oughtta leave her calm, I know

Chorus

E

I said I don’t know whether I’m the boxer or the bag

A

Oh yeah, can you see them?

E

Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

A

I see them

E

’Round the front way, yeah

A

And I know and I know I don’t want to stay

Verse 3

E

Make me cry

A

I see

E

I don’t know why there’s something else

A

I wanna drum it all away

Chorus

E

I said I don’t know whether I’m the boxer or the bag

A

Oh yeah, can you see them?

E

Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

A

I see them

E

’Round the front way, yeah

A

And I know and I know I don’t want to stay

Bridge

E

I said

A

I don’t wanna stay

E

I don’t wanna stay

A

I don’t wanna stay

Outro

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

Can you see them?

E

Oh, yeah

A

I don’t wanna stay

Practice tip: The entire song uses just two chords, E and A. Practice switching between them cleanly and experiment with adding the occasional single-note guitar lick in the E minor pentatonic scale to mimic the song’s vibe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Yellow Ledbetter"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: Em, G, A and D.

Is "Yellow Ledbetter" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Yellow Ledbetter" in?

It is in the key of E.

Who wrote "Yellow Ledbetter"?

It was written by Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Jeff Ament, and released in 1992.