Hurt

How to play Hurt by Johnny Cash on guitar

“Hurt” is a great song to learn because it sounds honest and powerful even with a simple setup. You get a slow, reflective feel that lets you focus on clean changes and steady timing, so it is a good confidence builder for a beginner.

All of the shapes are open, so you do not need to worry about barre chords here. The main thing to watch is the move through Am - C - D - Am, especially the shift into D and back to Am, since that change can feel a little awkward at first.

Start by looping just Am - C - D - Am very slowly until each switch feels smooth. Then add the rest of the song at a comfortable pace, and only speed up once your hands can move without stopping. Keep the chords ringing clearly and let the song stay calm and even.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.