Song chords
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) chords
Matt Redman
Recorded in G with no capo and four open chords, which is a large part of why it became the most-sung modern hymn of its decade. It opens on the chorus, so the first thing you play is the hook.
Before you start
The chords you need.
4 shapes covers the whole song. Tap any diagram’s play button to hear it, or open its page for every voicing on six instruments.
The chart
Section by section.
Key of G, no capo: C–G–D–Em. The record walks the D down through D/F# on the way to the Em; the plain D shape works and the bass note is all you lose. Hit play on any section to hear it walk through at 73 bpm.
Chorus
10 barsThe song opens here; the third line drops to C–D before the final G.
Verse
4 barsOne loop, three times through, then a G to close the section.
Need it in a different key, or without the capo? Run it through the transposer — move every chord by the same interval and the song is unchanged.
Playing it
What actually trips people up.
The song starts on the IV, not the tonic. Count yourself in on the C or the first line arrives a bar late every time.
The chart above is the commonly played arrangement — the version a competent player would hand you, not a bar-for-bar transcription of a specific master. Section labels are there to orient you; live and studio versions repeat, extend and drop sections freely, and none of that changes which chords you need.
About this page
Chord names and song structure are facts; for lyrics and official notation, support the artist. This page carries no lyrics on purpose — 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) was written and recorded by Matt Redman, and the words belong to them. What you get here is the harmony: the key, the capo, the tempo, and which chord goes where.
Next
Songs that sit near this one.
FAQ
Questions people actually ask.
What key is 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) in?
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) is in G Major, and it is played in that key with no capo — the chords you read here are the chords you hear.
Do I need a capo for 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)?
No. 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) is played open in G Major. A capo will only move it out of the recorded key, which matters if you are playing along with the record.
What chords are in 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)?
C, G, D and Em — 4 chords across 2 sections. Key of G, no capo: C–G–D–Em. The record walks the D down through D/F# on the way to the Em; the plain D shape works and the bass note is all you lose.
What is the easiest way to play 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)?
Beginner overall. The song starts on the IV, not the tonic. Count yourself in on the C or the first line arrives a bar late every time.
How fast is 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)?
About 73 bpm. Every section on this page plays back at that tempo, so you can hear how long each chord is meant to be held before you try it yourself.
Can I play 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) in a different key?
Yes — the progression is the song, not the letters. Move every chord by the same number of semitones and it still works. The transposer will do the arithmetic, or you can move the capo and keep these shapes.