Easy Guitar Chords For Gospel Songs

[Elvina Cannizzaro]

Foureasy chords are all you need to know to play any of these popular worship songs, carols, and hymns. All the arrangements follow the original recording so that you can still play along with the recording. All the chords have been simplified down to G, C, Em, and D. You can transpose all of these songs into any key and even edit the arrangement online. If you want to stick with G, C, Em, and D chord shapes, pull out your capo to play any of these songs in any key. Every song starts in the key of G.

The word "worship" comes from the same root as "worth" and "worthy." One definition of "worth" is the level at which someone or something deserves to be valued or rated. "Worthy" means "deserving effort, attention or respect."

Worship involves adoration or respect for the God we deem to be worthy of all we are and have. Viewed from this perspective, worship through song has little to do with the technical proficiency of a musician and everything to do with the heart attitude of the worshiper. God doesn't hear notes so much as He hears hearts! (1 Samuel 16:7)

Years ago, I wrote Beginning Guitar: Folk Songs to teach my elementary students how to play guitar well enough to accompany themselves while singing. I started with one-finger chords, then added a few more simple chords, one at a time. My goal was to ensure kids experienced early success, whether or not they followed through to become proficient guitarists. To my delight, many kids who started out with this approach went on to become outstanding guitarists, much better than me!

This list includes 90 worship songs that can be played by beginning guitarists, even young children. As time allows, I plan to record the songs so beginners can learn by playing along and can hear the tunes if they don't know them. Many of these tunes are widely known.

Whether you want to institute worship in your home, teach your kids to play guitar, or spice up a Sunday school class with music, this book can help. I would appreciate any comments on your experience with these materials. I took time to put this together because of the wonderful response I got for Beginning Guitar: Folk Songs.

I compiled public domain hymns and songs into a booklet, but ran into problems and delays trying to secure permission from copyright holders of more modern songs. I finally gave up. Italicized songs are copyrighted, so words and chords are not published on this site. They can be played with just the simple chords indicated, but you'll have to find the words and figure out where the chords belong. If there is a listed song you really want kids to learn, e-mail me and I'll be happy to assist as best I can.

This is a great worship song (I personally love this song!), and a great one to play as a part of any worship team, in front of your church, or just learn by yourself to sing along to whenever you'd like.

Who You Say I Am is another easy song you can learn to play on guitar without too much struggle. The chords are fundamental, core chords that you'll have to learn at one point or another (or should already know if you've been playing for a period of time!)

Note: All of the songs from this point onward will be played with 4 chords. Even though I could've simplified a few of them even more into just 3 chords, they just wouldn't have sounded the same. I decided to do all I could to keep the "essence" of the music.

You'll notice that the remainder of the songs listed here sound a bit "richer" than the first song we simplified down to only 3 chords (Amazing Love). Even though Amazing Love still sounds good, adding an E Minor (Em) into the chord progression would significantly improve the sound. Just my two cents!

As I mentioned in the previous description (Who You Say I Am), every song from this point on is going to have 4 chords instead of 3 (giving them a richer sound, and having them all sounding even more like the original!)

Once again, these aren't tricky chords. After practicing for a few hours (this is, realistically, how long it should take if you're new to this - perhaps a bit longer), you'll be able to have these chords down pretty well.

When I was learning my first chord progression on guitar, it took me roughly a week (practicing an hour or so a day), until I could play the chords without looking at the frets, purely by muscle memory.

This song is a little bit more difficult in that it doesn't have a "rotating" chord progression. When I say rotating, I mean playing the same four chords over and over again in the same order each time.

And we finally come across our first 5-chord song! Don't worry, it's not as scary as it sounds. And if you've been following along with some of the earlier songs I mentioned, you should already have G, C, Em, and D down.

The lyrics are easy to remember once you've heard the song all the way through at least one time (but with the chorus, you can even pick that up on your first time singing this song due to it repeating).

[Chorus]

Holy there is no one like You

There is none beside You

Open up my eyes in wonder

Show me who You are

And fill me with Your heart

And lead me in Your love

to those around me

Cornerstone by Hillsong is a great worship song -- I personally love singing it! This is a more upbeat song that would fit in great as the last worship song when closing out your set (if you'll be playing this with your worship band).

Bar chords definitely aren't easy to play; check out the chord chart for F#m and B below. A whole bar for F#m on the second fret, and a five string second fret bar for B. There's some difficult guitar notes there!

To get around this and simplify this song to a playable beginner level, what I did was transposed the entire song down 9 half steps (-9 transpose). This brought it down from E to G, giving us the same chords we've been playing the rest of these songs in!

Mighty to Save by Hillsong United is a worship song you've very likely heard or sung along to in the past. I listen to it on my local Christian radio station all the time (K-LOVE) and have sung it (and played it!) numerous times in our church's worship segment of the service.

[Chorus]

Savior, he can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever, author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

I classify this song as being at a true beginner level. There isn't any quick chord switching anywhere in the chorus. The verses of Everlasting God don't have any fast chord switches either, except for the last two lines of each verse (where there's a quicker transition).

[Verse]

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord

Wait upon the Lord

As we wait upon the Lord

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord

Wait upon the Lord

We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever

Our hope, our strong Deliverer

[Chorus]

You are the everlasting God

The everlasting God

You do not faint and you won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak

You comfort those in need

You lift us up on wings like eagles

"God of wonders beyond our galaxy...", as the song goes! This is one of my favorite worship songs. It's easy to pick up and play (using our same four chords once again), and it's a little more upbeat allowing it to fit in the middle of any worship segment easily.

I want to point out, though, that this is a more advanced song. If you look at the guitar tabs I listed, you'll notice that there are a lot of tougher techniques listed such as hammering guitar strings and sliding.

[Chorus]

God of wonders beyond our galaxy

You are holy, holy

The universe declares Your majesty

You are holy, holy

Lord of heaven and earth

Lord of heaven and earth

Reckless Love by Cory Asbury is another great worship song I like to sing (and play, as a matter of fact!) It once again revolves around these same four chords (Em, D, C, and G), making it simple to play once you get these chords down and mastered.

I would classify this song as being in the beginner range, because you switch between chords at a "medium-slow" pace when playing each verse and chorus (there are chord switches every few words of the song if you take a look at the tabs I provided).

I would highly recommend starting with this song if you're just beginning to learn some worship music. The chord progression for the verses and the chorus is exactly the same, making it easy to master.

[Verse]

Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me

You have been so, so good to me

Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me

You have been so, so kind to me

[Chorus]

Oh the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'till I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it. Still You give yourself away

Oh the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God

That's what makes this song easy to play. You only have to switch between three chords at a time (in a repeating manner) to play each verse, and again only three alternating chords to play the chorus.

Open the Eyes of My Heart by Paul Baloche has been around for many years now (released in 2000). I remember singing this song in worship in the mid-2000's, and I still continue to hear it played and sung every once in a while.

How Great is Our God is a very popular worship song to this day -- and for a good reason! It's a fantastic song to sing out in worship with some great lyrics. I still hear it playing on the radio at least several times a week (the international version of How Great is Our God is one of my favorites!)

[Verse]

The splendor of the King, clothed in majesty

Let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice.

He wraps Himself in light, and darkness tries to hide

And trembles at his voice, trembles at his voice.

The only thing with One Thing Remains by Jesus Culture is its difficulty. It's a little bit on the harder side to learn (not to mention, it contains five chords that you'll have to learn instead of 3 or 4).

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