Song chords
Holy Forever chords
Chris Tomlin
A modern hymn shape: a verse that rocks between the tonic and the IV, then a chorus that finally introduces the minor chord. Recorded in A, played almost everywhere with a capo at the second fret.
Before you start
The chords you need.
4 shapes covers the whole song, fretted with the capo at fret 2. Tap any diagram’s play button to hear it, or open its page for every voicing on six instruments.
The chart
Section by section.
Capo 2 with G shapes. The verse is essentially a I–IV vamp, so the Em arriving in the chorus is the emotional event of the song. Hit play on any section to hear it walk through at 74 bpm.
Verse
8 barsA I–IV vamp — no minor chord yet.
Shapes as fretted with the capo on — the names above are what you grab, not what you hear.
Chorus
4 barsShapes as fretted with the capo on — the names above are what you grab, not what you hear.
Bridge
4 barsShapes as fretted with the capo on — the names above are what you grab, not what you hear.
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.
Don't rush the verse changes. Two bars per chord feels slow under your hands and correct in a room full of people singing.
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 — Holy Forever was written and recorded by Chris Tomlin, 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 Holy Forever in?
Holy Forever sounds in A Major. The common arrangement gets there with a capo at fret 2 and G Major shapes, which is why the chords written here are G Major chords rather than A Major ones.
Do I need a capo for Holy Forever?
Yes for the standard arrangement: capo 2. Without it you would be playing A Major shapes, which needs barre chords. With the capo on, the shapes are G Major — much friendlier under the hand.
What chords are in Holy Forever?
G, C, D and Em — 4 chords across 3 sections. Capo 2 with G shapes. The verse is essentially a I–IV vamp, so the Em arriving in the chorus is the emotional event of the song.
What is the easiest way to play Holy Forever?
Beginner overall. Don't rush the verse changes. Two bars per chord feels slow under your hands and correct in a room full of people singing.
How fast is Holy Forever?
About 74 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 Holy Forever 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.