Wagon Wheel

Darius Rucker · 149 BPM · 4/4

Wagon Wheel

Darius Rucker · Capo 2

0:000:00

CapoPlace capo at fret 2; pitch is unchanged.

G

GHeadin' down south tDo the land of the pinesG

GI'm thumbin' my way into North Caroline

GStarin' up the Droad and pray tEmo God I see CheadlightGs

GI made it down the coast Din seventeen hours

DPickiCn' me a bouquet of dogwood flowers

CAnGd I'm a-hopin' for Raleigh, I canEm see my baby toCnight

CSo, rock Gme mama like a wagonD wheel

DRock me maCma any way you feeGl

GHey... maBmmaEm rocCk mGe

GRock me mama like the wind and the rain

GRock me mama like Ca southbound trGain

GHeDyEm.Bm.C.G mDamCa GroDckBm CmeG

GRunnin' from the Dcold up in New EnglandC

CI was born to be a fiddler in an old time strGing band

GMy baby plDays a guiEmtar, I picCk a banjo Gnow

GOh, north country wintDers keep a-gettin' me down

DLoCst my money playin' poker, so I had to leaGve town

GBut I ain't a-turnin' back to Emlivin' that old lifCe no moreG

GSo, rock me mama liDke a wagon wGheel

GRock meC mama any way you feeGl

GHey... mBmamaEm rock Gme

GYeah, rock me mama like the wind and the rain

RockC me mama like a southbound trGain

GHDeBmyC.G.D.C GmaDmmGaG rDoCcGkD EmmCeG

GWalkin' to the soutDh out of RoanokCe

CI caught a trucker out of Philly, had a nice Glong toke

GBut he's a-headin' west fDrom the Cumberland Gap

DTo JohnBmson CityC, TennesseGe

GAnd I gotta get a movDe on before the sun

DI hear Cmy baby callin' my name and I know that she's the onlGy one

GAnd if I died Din RaleighEm, at least I will die fGree

GSo, rock me mama like a waDgon wheel

DRockC me mama any waGy you feel

GHey... DmamaEm rock Cme

COh, rock Gme mama like the wDind and the rain

DRock me mAmama like a Gsouthbound train

GHey...D mEama BmrocCk mGe

GSo, rock me mama like a wagon whAeel

ARock me maCma any way you feel (oh, I Gwanna feel)

GHey...D maBmma rocCk meG

GRock me mama like the Dwind and the rain

DRocCk me mama like Ema southboundG train

GHey...D mama Bmrock meC

Tap any line to jump

All Chords Used (9)

KeyA major

CapoFret 2

Tempo~149 BPM

How to play Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker on guitar

Wagon Wheel is a great beginner song because the groove is steady, familiar, and easy to sing along with once you lock into the pulse. At about 149 BPM, it feels lively but not rushed, so you can focus on keeping your changes clean and relaxed.

You can lean on the open shapes A, E, D, and Em, with the harder barre shapes F#m, C#m, Bm, F#, and B only when the chart calls for them. The main thing to watch is the quick back-and-forth between A and E in the opening progression, since that repeat sets the feel right away.

Start by looping A - E - A - E slowly until the switches feel automatic, then add the rest of the chart one change at a time. Once your hands know the shapes, play along with the song at full tempo and keep your strumming even so the rhythm stays solid.

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.

Looking for more? Browse the full guitar song library or explore chord diagrams.

Tutorials & guides for "Wagon Wheel"

D Chord Guitar — How to Play D Major (Finger Positions + Tips)

Em Chord on Guitar — The Easiest Chord You

Em7 Chord on Guitar: One-Finger Open Chord

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