Songs That Use Em C G D (The Most Common Guitar Chord Progression)
Learn easy guitar songs that use Em, C, G, and D. This is the most common chord progression on guitar and unlocks hundreds of songs.
If you can play Em, C, G, and D, you already know the most common chord progression on guitar.
This 4-chord combination appears in hundreds of popular songs across:
- Rock
- Pop
- Folk
- Country
- Acoustic singer-songwriter music
It’s popular because:
- All four chords are beginner-friendly open chords
- The progression sounds complete and musical
- You can reuse the same strumming patterns across many songs
If you’re looking for the biggest “song unlock” moment on guitar, this is it.
The Em – C – G – D Chord Progression
The Em–C–G–D progression (and small variations of it) is often the first full 4-chord loop beginners learn.
Once you’re comfortable switching between these shapes, you can play entire songs start to finish — not just parts of them.
Play 15 Iconic Songs - The Free Printable Songbook
- Chord diagrams, strumming & practice notes for all 15 songs
- Play your first full song today - even as a total beginner
- Learned in the right order, so you always know what’s next
Easy Songs That Use Em, C, G, and D
Below is a curated list of beginner guitar songs that use Em, C, G, and D as their main chords.
Each link goes to a lesson where I show a simplified, beginner-friendly version.
Rock / Pop Classics
- Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- With or Without You – U2
- Last Kiss – Pearl Jam
- Purple Rain – Prince
- Afterglow – Ed Sheeran
- Land Down Under – Men At Work
- Brown Eyed Girl (Strummer) – Van Morrison
Acoustic / Folk / Singer-Songwriter
- Hallelujah (Easier Acoustic) – Leonard Cohen
- Hallelujah Guitar Tutorial – Leonard Cohen / Jeff Buckley
- Fast Car (Strumming) – Tracy Chapman
- Country Roads (Easy Strumming) – John Denver
- Wagon Wheel – Old Crow
- Learning To Fly – Tom Petty
- I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
Classic & Traditional
- Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da – The Beatles
- Under The Boardwalk – The Drifters
- Auld Lang Syne – Traditional
- Cupid – Sam Cooke
Modern Pop / Rock Variations
- Viva La Vida (2-Finger Trick) – Coldplay
- Viva La Vida – Coldplay
- Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett
💡 Beginner insight:
Once you learn one solid strumming pattern for this progression, you can reuse it across dozens of songs.
That’s why Em–C–G–D is such a breakthrough moment for new guitarists.
What to Learn Before or After Em, C, G, and D
If this progression feels like a stretch, start with:
If these songs are feeling comfortable, try:
