Songs by chord set

Easy guitar songs with C, D, Em, G

Use this page when you know C, D, Em, G and want songs that match your current chord vocabulary.

Browse all easy songs Learn beginner chords

Quick answer

C, D, Em and G unlock a useful group of beginner songs. Start with one song, isolate its hardest chord change, then add rhythm after the changes stay moving.

Choose one of the three easiest songs first
Loop only the chord pair that pauses
Use one downstroke per chord before the real rhythm

Start with the easiest three

Choose one song, not all of them. These first three give you a clear place to begin and a real chord change to isolate.

1. Wagon Wheel

G - D - Em - C

Start with one downstroke per chord. Loop the first change that makes you pause.

2. Stand By Me

G - Em - C - D

Start with one downstroke per chord. Loop the first change that makes you pause.

3. Zombie

Em - C - G - D

Start with one downstroke per chord. Loop the first change that makes you pause.

See the four chord shapes before you play

C, D, Em and G are chord shapes, which means you press several strings at once. Compare the real hand positions, then practise only the pair that feels slow.

A left hand holding a C chord on a guitar neck, seen from the player's viewpoint — C

A left hand holding a D chord on a guitar neck, seen from the player's viewpoint — D

A left hand holding a Em chord on a guitar neck, seen from the player's viewpoint — Em

A left hand holding a G chord on a guitar neck, seen from the player's viewpoint — G

Your 10-minute song plan

2 minutes: clean shapes

Build C, D, Em and G once each. Pick the strings separately and fix only the note that does not ring.

3 minutes: hardest change

Loop the slowest pair without strumming. Keep every fingertip close to the strings.

5 minutes: one song

Use one downstroke per chord. Add the recorded rhythm only after the changes keep moving.

Songs using C, D, Em, G

Wagon WheelOld Crow Medicine Show - G - D - Em - C Stand By MeBen E. King - G - Em - C - D ZombieThe Cranberries - Em - C - G - D Take Me Home, Country RoadsJohn Denver - G - Em - D - C - G I'm YoursJason Mraz - G - D - Em - C PerfectEd Sheeran - G - Em - C - D Good RiddanceGreen Day - G - C - D - Em

The chord progression can appear in a different order. The useful part is that the same small chord family unlocks several songs.

Practice plan for these chords

One change at a time

Pick the hardest two-chord switch and loop it for one minute.

One strum first

Play one downstroke per chord before adding a rhythm pattern.

One song only

Choose the easiest song on this page and stay with it until the changes stop freezing.