Oasis’s 1995 hit song, Wonderwall, is a favorite among dormers and campers worldwide.
While beginner guitarists may find the original Wonderwall chords intimidating, there are easier ways to play the song on the guitar.
This song makes for an excellent piece for beginner guitarists to familiarize themselves with common chord shapes.
They can turn it into a practice piece for strengthening their fingers and their flexibility.
Strumming Wonderwall can pose an issue but nothing that constant practice cannot address. Here is how beginner guitarists can play this song.
Simplified Wonderwall Chords for Beginners
Wonderwall’s original chords have intimidating names that can scare newbie guitarists from trying this song. Thankfully, there is a simplified version of this Oasis masterpiece that can help novice guitar players learn the song.
These simplified Wonderwall chords only involve three fingers, max. There are five Wonderwall chords in total, two of which require two fingers to form the chord shape.
You should know that this Oasis song requires a capo on the 2nd fret. As such, when we say 1st fret in this tutorial, we are referring to the 3rd fret on your guitar without the capo.
- E Minor
Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret’s 5th string and your ring finger on the 4th string of the same fret. Remember, your fingers will be on the 4th fret if you do not have the capo. Strum all six cords, starting from the 6th cord.
- G Major
This chord requires your index, middle, and ring fingers. Position your index digit on the 2nd fret’s 5th cord, your middle digit on the 3rd fret’s 6th cord, and your ring digit on the 1st cord of the same fret. Play all six cords.
- D major
Here is another three-finger chord that you will use for playing Wonderwall. Press the 2nd fret’s 3rd string with your 1st digit and the 1st string with your 2nd digit. Next, press the 3rd fret’s 2nd string with your 3rd digit. When you strum the D chord, ensure to strum only the four lower cords and leave the two upper cords muted.
- A7sus4
This chord has an intimidating name. However, its shape is even easier than the E minor chord. Playing this chord in the open string requires you to cover the 4th cord on the 2nd fret with your index digit. You then need to press the 2nd cord on the 3rd fret with your ring digit. There are no muted strings here, so you can strum all the cords.
- C Major
This chord requires the pressing of the 1st fret’s 2nd cord with your index finger. You also need to press the 2nd fret’s 4th cord with your middle digit and the 3rd fret’s 5th cord with your ring digit. Make sure to mute the topmost cord when you strum this chord.
Suggested Strumming Pattern
While the Waterwall chords are straightforward and simple, its strumming pattern requires a bit of practice. You may want to perform the downstrokes first before you attempt to add any upstrokes. It should give you the confidence you need to play this song.
The strumming pattern for this song is as follows, where D is for downstroke and U is for the upstroke.
D-D-D-DUDUD-D-DUDUD-D-DU-U-U-DUDU
Playing the Wonderwall Chords on Your Guitar
Here are Oasis’s simplified Wonderwall chords with the song’s lyrics.
Intro
Em G D A7sus4 (x4)
Verse 1
Em G D A7sus4
Today is gonna be the day that they’re gonna throw it back to you
Em G D A7sus4
By now you should’ve somehow realized what you gotta do
Em G D A7sus4 Em G D Asus4
I don’t believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now
Verse 2
Em G D A7sus4
Backbeat the word is on the street that the fire in your heart is out
Em G D A7sus4
I’m sure you’ve heard it all before but you never really had a doubt
Em G D A7sus4 Em G D A7sus4
I don’t believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now
Pre-Chorus
C D Em
And all the roads we have to walk are winding
C D Em
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
C D G D Em D A7sus4
There are many things that I would like to say to you but I don’t know how
Chorus 1
C Em G
Because maybe
Em C Em G
You’re gonna be the one that saves me?
Em C Em G
And after all
Em C Em G Em
You’re my wonderwall
Verse 3
Em G D A7sus4
Today was gonna be the day but they’ll never throw it back to you
Em G D A7sus4
By now you should’ve somehow realized what you’re not to do
Em G D A7sus4 Em G D A7sus4
I don’t believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now
Pre-Chorus
C D Em
And all the roads that lead you there are winding
C D Em
And all the lights that light the way are blinding
C D G D Em
There are many things that I would like to say to you
D A7sus4
But I don’t know how
Chorus 2
C Em G
I said maybe
Em C Em G
You’re gonna be the one that saves me?
Em C Em G
And after all
Em C Em G Em
You’re my wonderwall
C Em G
I said maybe
Em C Em G
You’re gonna be the one that saves me?
Em C Em G
And after all
Em C Em G Em
You’re my wonderwall
C Em G
I said maybe (I said maybe)
Em C Em G
You’re gonna be the one that saves me? (that saves me)
Em C Em G
You’re gonna be the one that saves me? (that saves me)
Em C Em G Em
You’re gonna be the one that saves me? (that saves me)
Learning easier Wonderwall chords should give you the confidence to rock this piece. This is a remarkable song you can always include in your growing guitar playlist. You can play it at picnics or when you gather with your friends around the campfire.