What Hurts the Most by Rascal Flatts
Key: G# · 136 BPM · 4/4
What Hurts the Most by Rascal Flatts is written in Ab major. Its chords cycle through the I-V-vi-IV progression — modern pop / Axis progression (extremely common, often looped), played as a V-vi-IV-I rotation: Eb-Fm-Db-Ab. At 136 BPM, it moves at a brisk, upbeat pace.
The progression
This song follows the I-V-vi-IV progression (Modern pop / Axis progression (extremely common, often looped)), played as a V-vi-IV-I rotation in Ab major. Chords are automatically detected — if something looks off, let us know.
Play it in other keys
| Capo | Shape key | Chords to play |
|---|---|---|
| Capo 1 | G | D-Em-C-G |
| Capo 4 | E | B-C#m-A-E |
| Capo 6 | D | A-Bm-G-D |
Chord chart
- 0:00 Fm
- 0:03 Eb
- 0:04 Dbmaj7
- 0:08 Fm
- 0:10 Eb
- 0:11 Db
- 0:15 Fm
- 0:17 Eb
- 0:18 Db
- 0:21 Ab
- 0:22 Fm7
- 0:24 Eb
- 0:25 Dbmaj7
- 0:32 Eb
- 0:33 Fm
- 0:35 Eb
- 0:36 Dbsus2
- 0:38 Db
- 0:41 Eb
- 0:43 Fm
- 0:47 Db
- 0:50 Ab
- 0:54 Eb
- 0:57 Fm
- 1:01 Db
- 1:04 Ab
- 1:08 Eb
- 1:11 Fm
- 1:13 Eb
- 1:15 Dbmaj7
- 1:18 Fm
- 1:20 Eb
- 1:22 Db
- 1:25 Eb
- 1:25 Fm
- 1:27 Eb
- 1:29 Db
- 1:32 Eb
- 1:33 Db
- 1:35 Eb
- 1:36 Fm
- 1:39 Eb
- 1:40 Db
- 1:45 Eb
- 1:47 Fm
- 1:50 Db
- 1:54 Ab
- 1:57 Eb
- 2:01 Fm
- 2:04 Db
- 2:08 Ab
- 2:11 Eb
- 2:15 Db
- 2:20 Fm
- 2:23 Eb
- 2:24 Db
- 2:27 Eb
- 2:27 Fm
- 2:29 Eb
- 2:31 Db
- 2:33 Eb
- 2:34 Fm
- 2:38 Db
- 2:41 Ab
- 2:45 Eb
- 2:48 Fm
- 2:52 Db
- 2:55 Ab
- 2:59 Eb
- 3:02 Ab
- 3:03 Db
- 3:06 Eb
- 3:10 Fm
- 3:11 Eb
- 3:13 Db
- 3:17 Fm7
- 3:18 Eb
- 3:21 Db
Frequently asked questions
What key is What Hurts the Most in?
What Hurts the Most is in Ab major.
What chords does What Hurts the Most use?
The core of What Hurts the Most cycles through Eb, Fm, Db, Ab (4 chords).
What is the tempo of What Hurts the Most?
What Hurts the Most runs at 136 BPM in 4/4 time.
What chord progression does What Hurts the Most use?
What Hurts the Most follows the I-V-vi-IV progression, played as a V-vi-IV-I rotation. It's a modern pop / Axis progression (extremely common, often looped).
What capo should I use for What Hurts the Most?
Capo 1 and play G major shapes — that gets you open chords instead of barring in Ab major.