Ring of Fire

How to play Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash on guitar

This is a great beginner tune because it locks into a steady, familiar groove and lets you focus on clean changes. You get a classic country feel that is easy to recognize and satisfying to play right away.

You only need open shapes here, so your left hand can stay relaxed and close to the fretboard. The main thing to watch is the quick move between G and D, since the song keeps cycling those few chords and the opening starts with G - D - G - D.

Start by switching slowly between G and D until the shapes feel automatic. Then play along with the song at a comfortable pace, and finally bring it up to full speed once your changes stay even and smooth.

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.