There are only four Wagon Wheel chords and they’re all beginner guitar chords (with the help of a capo). I can almost hear a ‘phew’ from all the beginner guitarists out there.
With a capo at the second fret the chords of Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker are: G, D, Em and C. These are all beginner guitar chords that every guitarist should learn.
To help you with timing, try our free online metronome. Wagon Wheel is 148 BPM (beats per minute). But you can start slower and build up. Whatever tempo feels comfortable is right, then gradually speed up to the correct time.
The song mainly repeats the four courts in a cycle, with just one slight variation.
This makes it nice and easy for a beginner guitarist, or a more experienced guitarist who maybe is learning to play and sing at the same time.
The progression is possibly the most popular progression in all of pop music: the I, V, vi, IV progression which countless bands have used in a surprising variety of genres. In fact, the Axis of Awesome famously made a YouTube video all about it.
To understand the I, V, vi, IV progression, you need a little bit of music theory. But don’t worry, you don’t need a degree from Berklee to learn this tune.
The song was originally written by Bob Dylan and Old Crow Medicine Show, and then later covered by Darius Rucker.
If you’re interested in more easy guitar songs we have a list of 100.
Wagon Wheel chords
With a capo at the second fret the chords to Wagon Wheel are: G, D, Em, C.
Wagon Wheel chord chart by Darius Rucker
If viewing on a phone, turn sideways. (We mean the phone, not you.)
Capo at 2nd fret.
[Intro]
G D Em C
G D Em C
G D C
[Verse 1]
G D
Heading down south to the land of the pines
Em C
I'm thumbing my way into North Caroline
G D C
Staring up the road and pray to God I see headlights
G D
I made it down the coast in seventeen hours
Em C
Picking me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
G D C
And I'm a-hopin' for Raleigh, I can see my baby tonight
[Chorus]
G D
So rock me momma like a wagon wheel
Em C
Rock me momma any way you feel
G D C
Hey momma rock me
G D
Rock me momma like the wind and the rain
Em C
Rock me momma like a south bound train
G D C
Hey momma rock me
[Interlude]
G D Em C
G D C
[Verse 2]
G D
Running from the cold up in New England
Em C
I was born to be a fiddler in an old time string band
G D C
My baby plays a guitar, I pick a banjo now
G D
Oh north country winters keep a-getting me down
Em C
Lost my money playing poker so I had to leave town
G D C
But I ain't turning back to living that old life no more
[Chorus]
G D
So rock me momma like a wagon wheel
Em C
Rock me momma any way you feel
G D C
Hey momma rock me
G D
Rock me momma like the wind and the rain
Em C
Rock me momma like a south bound train
G D C
Hey momma rock me
[Interlude]
G D Em C
G D C
G D Em C
G D C
[Verse 3] (do a single strum for each chord)
G D
Walkin' to the south out of Roanoke
Em C
I caught a trucker out of Philly, had a nice long toke
G D
But he's a heading west from the Cumberland gap
C
To Jonson City, Tennessee
G D
I gotta get a move on before the sun
Em C
I hear my baby calling my name and I know that she's the only one
G D C
And if I die in Raleigh at least I will die free
[Chorus]
G D
So rock me momma like a wagon wheel
Em C
Rock me momma any way you feel
G D C
Hey momma rock me
G D
Rock me momma like the wind and the rain
Em C
Rock me momma like a south bound train
G D C
Hey momma rock me
G D
Oh, so rock me momma like a wagon wheel
Em C
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, I wanna feel
G D C
Hey, hey momma rock me, momma rock me, momma rock me
G D
Rock me momma like the wind and the rain
Em C
Rock me momma like a South bound train
G D C
Hey, yeah yeah, momma rock me, you can rock me, rock me
[Outro]
G D Em C
G D C
(Repeat)
