“Let Her Go” by Passenger is a beautiful and popular song, and great news for beginner guitarists – it’s also incredibly easy to play! You can learn to strum along to this hit in no time using simple open chords, without struggling with difficult barre chords. Forget complicated versions, this guide will show you the easiest way to play “Let Her Go” on guitar.
Many online tutorials make playing this song harder than it needs to be, often suggesting barre chords that can be frustrating for beginners. We’re going to focus on accessible versions of all the chords, so you can enjoy playing the song without hand strain.
The core of “Let Her Go” relies on a few fundamental chords that you might already know. We’ll be using C Major, G Major, D Major, and E minor as our mainstays.
There are a couple of slightly trickier chords in the song: Dsus4 and B minor. Dsus4 is a simple variation of the D chord, and we’ll show you an easy way to play a B minor chord without resorting to barre chords. Barre chords can be tough when you’re starting out, so we’ll use a non-barred version of B minor that captures the essence of the chord without the difficulty.
Let’s take a look at the essential chords you’ll need:
D Major Chord: A fundamental open chord for guitar, essential for playing “Let Her Go” and many other songs.
G Major Chord: Another common and easy guitar chord used throughout “Let Her Go”, providing a bright and uplifting sound.
Now, about that B chord. The original song does use a barre chord version of B minor, but you absolutely don’t need to! There are several easier ways to play a B minor that capture the same notes and sound great in the song. Choose whichever of these non-barred B minor (or B7) chords feels most comfortable for you. The most important thing is to find a version that allows you to play smoothly and enjoy the song. We even suggest a B7 chord as an alternative, which can often sound even better in this context!
Here are some easy versions of the B chord to try:
B minor Chord Diagram – Version 1
B minor Chord Diagram – Version 2
B minor Chord Diagram – Version 3
To really get the strumming pattern down, Marty Schwartz’s tutorials are fantastic resources. Just substitute the barre B chord he might use with any of the easier B chord versions we’ve shown you. Or, simply follow along with the lyrics and chords below! The chords are placed in parentheses () where they change in the song. Have fun playing – it’s a truly rewarding song to learn!
Intro: C, D, Em, D
Well you only need the light(C) when it’s burning low (G)
Only miss the sun(D) when it starts to snow(Em)
Only know you love(C) her when you let her go(G) (D)
Only know you’ve been high(C) when you’re feeling low(G)
Only hate the road(D) when you’re missing home(Em)
Only know you love her(C) when you let her go(G) (D)
And you let her go…….
Bridge: Em, C, D, Bm, Em, C, D, Dsus4, D
(Em) Staring at the bottom of your glass (C) Hoping one(D) day you’ll make a dream last(Bm)
But dreams come slow(Em) and they go so(C) fast (D) (Dsus4) (D)
You see(Em) her when you close your eyes(C) Maybe one(D) day you’ll understand why(Bm)
Everything you touch(Em) surely dies (C) (D)
Cause you only need the light(C) when it’s burning low (G)
Only miss the sun(D) when it starts to snow(Em)
Only know you love(C) her when you let her go(G) (D)
Only know you’ve been high(C) when you’re feeling low(G)
Only hate the road(D) when you’re missing home(Em)
Only know you love her(C) when you let her go(G) (D)
(Em)Staring at the ceiling in the dark(C) Same old empty(D) feeling in your heart(Bm)
Love comes slow(Em) and it goes so(C) fast (D)
Well you see(Em) her when you fall asleep(C) But never to touch(D) and never to keep(Bm)
‘Cause you loved her too much(Em) and you dive too deep(D)
Cause you only need the light(C) when it’s burning low (G)
Only miss the sun(D) when it starts to snow(Em)
Only know you love(C) her when you let her go(G) (D)
Only know you’ve been high(C) when you’re feeling low(G)
Only hate the road(D) when you’re missing home(Em) Only know you love her(C) when you let her go(G) (D)
Bridge: Em, C, D, Bm, Em, C, D, Dsus4, D
Well you only need the light(C) when it’s burning low (G)
Only miss the sun(D) when it starts to snow(Em)
Only know you love(C) her when you let her go(G) (D)
Only know you’ve been high(C) when you’re feeling low(G)
Only hate the road(D) when you’re missing home(Em)
Only know you love her(C) when you let her go(G) (D)
Cause you only need the light(C) when it’s burning low (G)
Only miss the sun(D) when it starts to snow(Em)
Only know you love(C) her when you let her go(G) (D)
Only know you’ve been high(C) when you’re feeling low(G)
Only hate the road(D) when you’re missing home(Em)
Only know you love her(C) when you let her go(G) (D) And You Let Her Go……
