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Song

Hey Ya! Guitar Chords

OutKast · from Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, 2003

The party anthem in the key of G — the whole song rides one four-chord loop, G, C, D and E, all easy open shapes. Played with no capo, so guitar, piano and bass all use the exact same chords. Every diagram below is sourced live from the chord library.

GuitarPianoSimple Bass
KeyG Major
DifficultyBeginner
Strumming PatternBright downstrokes, one loop throughout
Root3rd5th

Verse

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Questions about Hey Ya! on guitar

What key is Hey Ya! in?

G major. The entire song loops four chords — G (I), C (IV), D (V) and E (an added major VI that gives the loop its lift). There is no capo, so guitar, piano and bass all play these same chords at the same pitch.

Why does Hey Ya! feel tricky to strum even though the chords are easy?

The chords themselves (G, C, D, E) are simple open shapes, but the loop isn't an even four bars — Hey Ya! famously drops and adds beats, so the four chords don't land where your ear expects. Once you follow the song's push rather than counting a straight 4/4, the changes fall into place.

Chords & variants

GChordCChordDChordEChord PianoThis songSimple BassThis song