Carrie Underwood - The Old Rugged Cross: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "The Old Rugged Cross" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

      F                     A#
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
    C      A#                 F
the emblem of suffering and shame.
       F                             A#
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
       C             A#           F
for a world of lost sinners was slain.

Chorus:
           C               A#     F
So, I'll cherish the old rugged cross
         A#                     F
'til my trophies at last I lay down.
         F           F7          A# Gm
I will cling to the old rugged cross
      F/C             C          F
and exchange it some day for a crown.

In the old rugged cross,
stained with blood so divine
A wondrous beauty I see;
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died
To pardon and sanctify me

Chorus:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
Ooh, yeah

Yes, I’ll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

Ooh, ooh


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A#

Guitar chord A#

C

Guitar chord C

F

Guitar chord F

F7

Guitar chord F7

Gm

Guitar chord Gm

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "The Old Rugged Cross" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "The Old Rugged Cross" by Carrie Underwood.

Carrie Underwood Song List