Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
[Opening]
[G] [D] [Em] [C] [G] [D] [C]
[G]Heading down south to the [D]land of the pines
[Em]I’m thumbing my way into [C]North Caroline
[G]Staring up the road and [D]pray to God I see [C]headlights
[G]I made it down the coast in [D]seventeen hours
[Em]Picking me a bouquet of [C]dogwood flowers
And I’m a [G]hoping for Raleigh, I can [D]see my baby to[C]night
[chorus]
So [G]rock me momma like a [D]wagon wheel
[Em]Rock me momma any [C]way you feel
[G]Hey, [D]momma [C]rock me
[G]Rock me momma like the [D]wind and the rain
[Em]Rock me momma like a [C]south bound train
[G]Hey, [D]momma [C]rock me
[verse 2]
[G] [D] [Em] [C] [G] [D] [C]
[G]Running from the cold [D]up in New England
I was [Em]born to be a fiddler in an [C]old time string band
My [G]baby plays a guitar, [D]I pick a banjo [C]now
Oh, [G]north country winters keep a [D]getting me down
I lost my [Em]money playing poker so I [C]had to leave town
But I [G]ain’t turning back to [D]living that old life [C]no more
[chorus]
So [G]rock me momma like a [D]wagon wheel
[Em]Rock me momma any [C]way you feel
[G]Hey, [D]momma [C]rock me
[G]Rock me momma like the [D]wind and the rain
[Em]Rock me momma like a [C]south bound train
[G]Hey, [D]momma [C]rock me
[Closing]
[G] [D] [Em] [C] [G] [D] [C]
[G]Walking to the south [D]out of Roanoke
I caught a [Em]trucker out of Philly had a [C]nice long toke
But [G]he’s a heading west from the [D]Cumberland gap
To [G]Johnson City, Tennessee
And I [G]gotta get a move on [D]before the sun
I hear my [Em]baby calling my name and I [C]know that she’s the only one
And [G]if I died in Raleigh at [D]least I will die [C]free
[chorus]
So [G]rock me momma like a [D]wagon wheel
[Em]Rock me momma any [C]way you feel
[G]Hey, [D]momma [C]rock me
[G]Rock me momma like the [D]wind and the rain
[Em]Rock me momma like a [C]south bound train
[G]Hey, [D]momma [C]rock me
[chorus]
So [G]rock me momma like a [D]wagon wheel
[Em]Rock me momma any [C]way you feel
[G]Hey, [D]momma [C]rock me
[G]Rock me momma like the [D]wind and the rain
[Em]Rock me momma like a [C]south bound train
[G]Hey, [D]momma [C]rock me
[G] [D] [Em] [C] [G] [D] [C]
How to play Wagon Wheel on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel on guitar requires 4 chords and 5 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Wagon Wheel uses these transitions most often: G → D (36), C → G (34), and D → Em (18). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - D chord transition.
1. G → D chord transition
To move from G to D;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
2. D → Em chord transition
To move from D to Em;
- While playing D, lift your index finger from G string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
3. Em → C chord transition
To move from Em to C;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
4. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
5. D → C chord transition
To move from D to C;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
Wagon Wheel chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Wagon Wheel.
- Wagon Wheel includes 124 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Wagon Wheel contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Wagon Wheel connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → D: 24%
After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).- D → G: 29%
- D → Em: 17%