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How to Play 47 Songs with Only 4 Chords
Ever watched a street performer cycle through dozens of hit songs without stopping? Or seen that famous Axis of Awesome comedy routine where they play hit after hit with the same four chords? It's not magic - it's music theory in action, and it's your shortcut to playing hundreds of popular songs…
The Magic Four Chord Progression
The progression I'm talking about is G - D - Em - C. In music theory terms, that's I - V - vi - IV, but don't worry about that. Just learn these four chords, and suddenly a world of songs opens up to you.
Why does this work? These chords create a perfect emotional journey that songwriters have used for decades. It's familiar, satisfying, and incredibly versatile.
Songs You Already Know
This progression (sometimes with slight variations or in different keys) powers hits like:
  • "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey
  • "Let It Be" by The Beatles
  • "No Woman No Cry" by Bob Marley
  • "With or Without You" by U2
  • "Africa" by Toto
  • "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5
And dozens more. The Axis of Awesome routine demonstrates 47 songs using these same four chords, showing just how universal this progression is.
Getting Started
If you're a beginner, here's what to do:

1

Learn these four chords properly (G - D - Em - C). This means every string should ring out clearly without buzzing. Your fingertips should be arched and pressing on the strings just behind the fret lines, not directly on them.

2

Practice changing between them smoothly. The G to D transition is particularly important because these two chords appear next to each other in most songs using this progression.

3

Try different strumming patterns to create different feels. Start with simple downstrums on each beat, then gradually add upstrums between beats.

4

Pick a song from the list that you like and start playing along.
Why This Matters
Learning this progression isn't just a party trick - it's a valuable insight into how music works. You'll start to hear these chords everywhere, and this recognition helps you understand song structure and chord relationships.
More importantly, it gives beginners the ability to play recognisable songs quickly. There's nothing more motivating than being able to play songs you love, and this four-chord trick gets you there faster than any other approach.
So grab your guitar, learn G, D, Em, and C, and suddenly you're not just a beginner anymore - you're a musician with dozens of songs at your fingertips.
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