Ed Sheeran’s 4 Chords: Play 7 Pop Hits on Guitar
Can you really play hit after hit with the same four chords?
Yes.
And that is exactly why Ed Sheeran’s famous RTL medley became such a strong guitar lesson in disguise.
On Dutch television, he grabbed his guitar, played Em – G – C – D, and basically showed that a huge number of pop songs can sit on the same harmonic foundation. The live page already states this clearly and lists the medley idea, the chord set, and the songs he ran through.
What looks like a fun TV moment is actually a useful lesson in:
- chord progressions
- song structure
- harmony recognition
- strumming control
- and how pop music often works
So this is not just about copying Ed Sheeran.
It is about understanding why the same four chords keep showing up in song after song.
The 4 Chords Ed Sheeran Used
The progression is:
Em – G – C – D
The live page already presents that exact chord loop and explains it in relation to the key of G major.
In practical guitar terms, these are easy and common shapes that many players already know or can learn quickly.
A useful beginner-friendly version is:
- Em7 = 022033
- G = 320033
- Cadd9 = x32033
- D = xx0232
Those shapes work especially well together because they keep some fingers close and make the transitions smooth. The live page already uses these same practical chord shapes in its practice section.
That is one reason this progression is so popular on acoustic guitar.
Why These 4 Chords Work So Often
This is the real lesson.
The live page explains the progression in the key of G major as:
- Em = vi
- G = I
- C = IV
- D = V
That matters because these chords belong to one of the most familiar harmonic families in pop music.
Even when the order changes, songs built on I, V, vi, IV or close relatives often feel instantly familiar. The emotional pull is strong, the movement is smooth, and the harmony supports a wide range of melodies.
So when Ed Sheeran moves through different songs with the same four chords, he is not proving that songs are identical.
He is showing that many songs share the same harmonic skeleton.
That is why the medley works.
Songs in the Ed Sheeran 4-Chord Medley
The live page lists these songs from the RTL moment:
- Passenger – Let Her Go
- Craig David – Walking Away
- The Beatles – Let It Be
- Madonna – Papa Don’t Preach
- Spice Girls – 2 Become 1
- Bruno Mars – Locked Out of Heaven
- Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
Some of the originals sit in different keys, but the important point is not the exact original key.
The point is the functional harmony.
Ed is showing that if the chord function matches closely enough, you can reinterpret different songs over one shared progression.
That is a powerful skill for any guitarist.
What Guitarists Should Learn From This
A lot of players look at this kind of medley and think:
“Pop songs are simple.”
That is a lazy conclusion.
A better conclusion is:
“Many successful songs are built on strong, reusable harmonic foundations.”
That is a completely different insight.
Because once you understand that, you start hearing songs differently.
You stop thinking only in terms of isolated chord names and start hearing:
- function
- movement
- emotional contour
- reusability
- songwriting logic
That is where music theory becomes practical.
Chord Shapes You Can Use Right Away
Here is a practical version of the progression again:
- Em7 = 022033
- G = 320033
- Cadd9 = x32033
- D = xx0232
These are great shapes for acoustic playing because they sit well under the fingers and sound full with open strings. The live page already recommends exactly these shapes and even adds D/F# as a bonus option.
If you are a beginner, focus first on:
- clean finger placement
- relaxed fretting hand
- smooth transitions
- even strumming
Do not rush into speed.
Clean first.
Fast later.
A Simple Strumming Pattern to Start With
The live page suggests this practical strumming pattern:
Down – Down-Up – Up-Down-Up
That is a solid pop strumming base because it creates flow without being too busy.
You can count it loosely like this:
1 – 2& – &4&
But do not get obsessed with the formula alone.
The more important thing is:
- keep the groove steady
- let the hand keep moving
- avoid freezing on the upstrokes
- make the rhythm feel even
A simple pattern played steadily always beats a fancier pattern played badly.
How to Practice the Medley Properly
The live page already outlines a useful step-by-step method: learn the shapes, drill the loop, add a strumming pattern, assign one loop per song, and then build your own medley.
That is already solid, but here is the stronger version.
1. Learn the chord loop first
Do not think about seven songs yet.
Just get comfortable with:
Em7 → G → Cadd9 → D
Loop it slowly until the changes feel natural.
2. Get the rhythm steady
Do not add melody too early.
Lock in the groove first.
3. Sing or hum one song over the loop
Start with one familiar melody, for example Let Her Go.
This teaches your ear how melody and harmony relate.
4. Swap to another song without changing chords
That is the breakthrough moment.
You start hearing how different songs can live over the same progression.
5. Build a short medley
Use 4 bars or 8 bars per song and switch cleanly.
That turns a theory lesson into real playing.
Why This Is Great for Beginners
This kind of lesson is excellent for beginners because it trains several important skills at once:
- open chord control
- chord changes
- strumming consistency
- harmonic awareness
- song recognition
- confidence through familiar material
And it does all that without overwhelming the player with too many chord shapes.
That matters.
Because many beginners do not need more complexity.
They need stronger control over the basics.
Why This Is Also Useful for More Advanced Players
Advanced players should not dismiss this lesson either.
This is not just a beginner chord trick.
It is also a lesson in:
- harmonic reduction
- pop songwriting structure
- arrangement thinking
- medley construction
- functional listening
If you can hear common progressions quickly, you become faster at:
- learning songs
- accompanying singers
- writing chord progressions
- transposing
- simplifying arrangements
- spotting patterns across genres
That is highly practical musicianship.
From Copying to Creating
The live page already points toward the next step: use Em–G–C–D to write your own song, transpose the idea to another key, and experiment with rhythm and texture.
That is exactly the right move.
Once you understand the progression, do not stop at imitation.
Use it to:
- write your own chorus
- build a verse loop
- support a singer
- try arpeggios instead of strumming
- mute the strings for a tighter groove
- change the feel without changing the harmony
That is where a simple chord lesson becomes real musical development.
A Better Way to Think About “Only 4 Chords”
Some people hear this kind of medley and conclude that pop music is shallow.
That misses the point.
The point is not that four chords are enough for everything.
The point is that a lot can happen on top of the same harmonic base:
- melody changes
- rhythm changes
- lyrics change
- energy changes
- style changes
- arrangement changes
- vocal delivery changes
That is why music is more than just chord count.
And that is also why this medley is useful: it shows what harmony does, and what harmony does not do by itself.
Where to Go Next
If this lesson clicks, the next step is not just to memorize the Ed Sheeran medley.
The next step is to understand patterns like this across more songs.
That is also where structured learning matters more than random YouTube hopping. If you want stronger rhythm, theory, and practical guitar control, pages like Roadmap To Guitar Mastery, Rhythm Mastery, and Basic Guitar Chords fit naturally into this topic. The live page itself already connects the lesson to practical chord, TAB, and rhythm work.
Conclusion
Ed Sheeran’s 4 chords are not just a clever TV trick.
They are a practical lesson in how pop harmony works.
With Em – G – C – D, you can:
- play along with multiple songs
- improve chord switching
- work on strumming
- train your ear
- understand functional harmony
- and start creating your own progressions
That is why this lesson matters.
Not because the chords are complicated.
Because they are useful.
FAQ
What are Ed Sheeran’s 4 chords in the RTL medley?
The core progression is Em – G – C – D. The live page presents this exact progression and also gives practical guitar-friendly shapes like Em7 and Cadd9.
Can you really play multiple pop songs with the same 4 chords?
Yes. Many pop songs share very similar harmonic functions, even if the original key differs. That is exactly what Ed Sheeran demonstrates in the medley.
Why does the progression Em–G–C–D work so well?
Because it comes from a very common pop harmony family in the key of G major. The live page explains the chord functions as vi, I, IV, and V.
Is this lesson only for beginners?
No. Beginners benefit from the chord shapes and strumming, but more advanced players can use it to improve harmonic awareness, medley building, accompaniment, and songwriting.
What strumming pattern should I use for the Ed Sheeran 4-chord medley?
A strong starting point is Down – Down-Up – Up-Down-Up, which the live page also recommends.
What should I do after learning the 4-chord loop?
Use the progression to build your own medley, transpose it to another key, or write your own song with the same harmonic idea. The live page already encourages moving from copying into creating.
Transcript
You name any song and I’ll play it with four chords.
These are the four chords: Em, G, C, D.
Passenger – “Let Her Go”
Craig David – “Walking Away”
The Beatles – “Let It Be”
Madonna – “Papa Don’t Preach”
Spice Girls – “2 Become 1”
Bruno Mars – “Locked Out of Heaven”
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
Take Your Guitar Playing To The Next Level!
Wouter Baustein
Music Producer, Music & Mindset Coach
If you like clear, practical guitar and music coaching instead of random YouTube tips, you need structure. My guitar books and coaching programs give you that structure, so you can finally make real progress and level up your playing.