Song Index Songs with Simple About
EADGBE G
EADGBE Em
EADGBEXX D
EADGBE C
EADGBE F
EADGBEXX D7
Take Me Home Country Roads John Denver

How to Play "Take Me Home, Country Roads" on Guitar

John Denver’s "Take Me Home, Country Roads" is a classic folk song, known for its gentle feel and singalong chorus. The original version features acoustic guitar with a straightforward, steady rhythm, making it accessible for beginners.


Chords and Progression

The main chords are G, Em, D, C, with occasional use of F, Gadd, and Gadd-. These are all common open chords except F, which may be challenging for beginners. If F is too hard, you can substitute it with an easier Fmaj7 (x33210) or play just the top four strings of the standard F.


Strumming Pattern

A simple strumming pattern works well:

Down, Down-Up, Up-Down-Up (D D-U U-D-U)

You can keep the rhythm steady, matching the feel of the original recording. For verses, play gently, and strum a bit louder during the chorus for dynamics.


Tips for Beginners

  • Practice switching between G, Em, C, and D slowly at first to build muscle memory.
  • For the intro, play single down strums on each chord to capture the feel.
  • Use the tips of your fingers for cleaner chord transitions, especially with F and Gadd chords.
  • Let each chord ring clearly; check each string to ensure good sound.

With practice, this song is a great way to improve chord changes and rhythm while enjoying a timeless favorite.

Intro
G G Gadd Gadd- Gadd G
Verse 1
Almost heaven,Em West Virginia
D Blue Ridge Mountains,C Shenandoah RiG ver
Life is old there,Em older than the trees
D Younger than the mountains,C growin' like aG breeze
Chorus
Country Roads, take meD home, to theEm place, I beC long
West VirG ginia, mountainD Momma, take meC home, countryG roads
Verse 2
All my mem'ries,Em gather 'round her
D Miner's lady,C stranger to blueG water
Dark and dusty,Em painted on the sky
D Misty taste of moonshineC teardrop in myG eye
Chorus
Country Roads, take meD home, to theEm place, I beC long
West VirG ginia, mountainD Momma, take meC home, countryG roads
Bridge
Em I hear herD voice in theG mornin' hour as she calls me
TheC radio reG minds me of myD home far away
AndEm drivin' down theF road I get aC feelin' that IG should have been homeD yesterday, yesterD7 day
Chorus
Country Roads, take meD home, to theEm place, I beC long
West VirG ginia, mountainD Momma, take meC home, countryG roads
Chorus
Country Roads, take meD home, to theEm place, I beC long
West VirG ginia, mountainD Momma, take meC home, countryG roads
Outro
Take meD home, countryG roads
Take meD home, countryG roads
D G C G