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Hurt

Chords

4.821,120 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Note: to play the chorus correctly and simulate the piano playing, keep the G on the third fret of the
high e string fretted with your pinky. This makes the chords G major, Am7, Fadd9, and C major. I also 
suggest playing a Hendrix Fadd9, so wrap your thumb and play 1st fret low E string:
Am7    x-0-2-2-1-3
Fadd9  1-x-3-2-1-3
C      x-3-2-0-1-3
G      3-x-0-0-0-3
The strum pattern for Intro/Verse/Transition is picked for the downs and strummed for the ups.
I suggest picking the A and D strings, and then up strum.
[Intro]
Am    C  D  Am    C  D
[Verse 1]
   AmI Churt mysDelf toAmday   to Csee if DI still Amfeel
I Cfocus Don the pAmain   the Conly thDing that's Amreal
The Cneedle Dtears a Amhole   the Cold famDiliar stAming
Try to Ckill it Dall awAmay   but I reCmember DeverythGing
[Chorus 1]
AmWhat have I becoFme?     CMy sweetest frGiend
AmEveryone I kFnow  goes away Cin the eGnd
And Amyou could have it aFll   GMy empire of dirGt
AmI will let you dFown    GI will make you hAmurt
[Transition]
(Am)     C    D      Am    C  D  
[Verse 2]
   AmI Cwear this Dcrown of Amthorns   uCpon my Dliar's cAmhair
CFull of Dbroken thAmoughts   CI cannDot reAmpair
BeCneath the sDtains of Amtime   the Cfeelings DdisappeAmar
CYou are soDmeone eAmlse   CI am sDtill right hGere
[Chorus 2]
AmWhat have I becoFme?     CMy sweetest frGiend
AmEveryone I kFnow  goes away Cin the eGnd
And Amyou could have it aFll   GMy empire of Gdirt
AmI will let you dFown   GI will make you Ghurt
[Outro]
If AmI could start agaFin  a Gmillion miles aGway
AmI would keep mysFelf  GI would find a way
                 (single strum)

The story behind the song

Johnny Cash's powerful rendition of "Hurt" was released in 2002, becoming a commercially and critically acclaimed cover of the Nine Inch Nails original. Trent Reznor, who wrote the song, praised Cash's interpretation for its "sincerity and meaning," stating that "that song isn't mine anymore." The accompanying music video is widely considered one of the greatest of all time. This song showcases Cash's signature deep, calm, bass-baritone voice, bringing themes of sorrow and redemption to the forefront.

AI-written from these sources:Hurt (Nine Inch Nails song) — Wikipedia ↗Johnny Cash — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Hurt

by Johnny Cash

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Note: to play the chorus correctly and simulate the piano playing, keep the G on the third fret of the

high e string fretted with your pinky. This makes the chords G major, Am7, Fadd9, and C major. I also

suggest playing a Hendrix Fadd9, so wrap your thumb and play 1st fret low E string:

Am7 x-0-2-2-1-3

Fadd9 1-x-3-2-1-3

C x-3-2-0-1-3

G 3-x-0-0-0-3

The strum pattern for Intro/Verse/Transition is picked for the downs and strummed for the ups.

I suggest picking the A and D strings, and then up strum.

[Intro]

Am C D Am C D

[Verse 1]

Am C D Am C D Am

I hurt myself today to see if I still feel

C D Am C D Am

I focus on the pain the only thing that's real

C D Am C D Am

The needle tears a hole the old familiar sting

C D Am C D G

Try to kill it all away but I remember everything

[Chorus 1]

Am F C G

What have I become? My sweetest friend

Am F C G

Everyone I know goes away in the end

Am F G G

And you could have it all My empire of dirt

Am F G Am

I will let you down I will make you hurt

[Transition]

Am C D Am C D

()

[Verse 2]

Am C D Am C D Am

I wear this crown of thorns upon my liar's chair

C D Am C D Am

Full of broken thoughts I cannot repair

C D Am C D Am

Beneath the stains of time the feelings disappear

C D Am C D G

You are someone else I am still right here

[Chorus 2]

Am F C G

What have I become? My sweetest friend

Am F C G

Everyone I know goes away in the end

Am F G G

And you could have it all My empire of dirt

Am F G G

I will let you down I will make you hurt

[Outro]

Am F G G

If I could start again a million miles away

Am F G

I would keep myself I would find a way

(single strum)

About Hurt Chords by Johnny Cash

Learn how to play Hurt by Johnny Cash with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Hurt chords”, “Hurt guitar chords”, or “Johnny Cash Hurt chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Hurt chords and for experienced players who want accurate Hurt lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, Fadd9, C, E, A, D.

FAQ — Hurt by Johnny Cash

How do I play "Hurt" by Johnny Cash on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Hurt" by Johnny Cash on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Hurt" by Johnny Cash free?

Yes. The chords for "Hurt" by Johnny Cash are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Hurt" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Hurt" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Hurt"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Hurt" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Hurt" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Hurt" by Johnny Cash with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Johnny Cash below.

What key is "Hurt" in?

The chords for "Hurt" show the original chord names (including G, Fadd9, C, E, A, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.