Rocky Mountain High Chords And Guitar Lesson (John Denver)

If you've ever been to Colorado... then you may have experienced the Denver Blue and "Rocky Mountain High".

This is what inspired John Denver to write this acoustic country folk classic in the 70s.

The song has a gem of a guitar part, combining fun riffs, beautiful chords, and syncopated rhythms. In this post, I’ll break down what every guitar player needs to know.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Rocky Mountain High” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Rocky Mountain High?

"Rocky Mountain High" was written by John Denver and Mike Taylor. It was released in 1972 on Denver’s album Rocky Mountain High and has gone on to become one of his most signature songs. He wrote many great tunes, but this one was inspired after he moved to Aspen, Colorado in the early 70s. He fell in love with the majestic Rockies and felt a strong connection to the outdoors. This along with the Perseid meteor shower he experienced while camping in the mountains, which is referenced in the lyrics:

"I've seen it raining fire in the sky..."

All culminated in this iconic tune. Denver said that the "high" in the title referred to the sense of euphoria and peace he felt from being immersed in nature, not to drug use, as some interpreted it at the time.

The song was recorded at RCA Studios in New York City. While the serene imagery might suggest a quiet, nature-centric recording setting, it was actually recorded in a professional studio. The production combined folk and country elements with Denver’s distinctive voice, giving the song its iconic sound.

"Rocky Mountain High" reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1973, becoming one of Denver's most successful hits. And, in 2007, the Colorado State Legislature made "Rocky Mountain High" one of the two official state songs of Colorado (the other being “Where the Columbines Grow”). 

The song was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 for its cultural significance. 

Another interesting fact is…

After Denver’s unfortunate death in a plane crash in 1997, NASA sent his recording of "Rocky Mountain High" into space on a shuttle mission, a nod to his longstanding passion for both music and space exploration. 

"Rocky Mountain High" remains a timeless ode to the beauty of the Rocky Mountains and continues to inspire both music lovers and nature enthusiasts alike.

Next, before we jump into the “Rocky Mountain High” chords you’ll need to know…

What is the tuning for Rocky Mountain High?

The tuning for “Rocky Mountain High" is Drop D tuning. John Denver combined this along with a capo placed on the 2nd fret.  

In Drop D tuning, the 6th string is tuned down a whole step from E to D, while the other strings remain the same. Here's how the strings are spelled out: 

Drop D tuning: DADGBE

Here are the strings:

• D (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch)

The only change is the 6th string being tuned down to D instead of E. 

When you place a capo on the 2nd fret in Drop D tuning (DADGBE), all the notes are transposed up a whole step (two frets).  

Here’s the breakdown:

Transposed Tuning with Capo on 2nd Fret:

• E (6th string, lowest pitch) – previously D
• B (5th string) – previously A
• E (4th string) – previously D
• A (3rd string) – previously G
• C# (2nd string) – previously B
• F# (1st string, highest pitch) – previously E

So the tuning with the capo on the 2nd fret becomes EBEAC#F#.

Now that you know the tuning, let’s take a look at the…

Rocky Mountain High Chords

To play “Rocky Mountain High” on guitar then you only need to know these 5 core chords D5, Em7, G, A, and C.

It’s important to keep in mind that these are the capo chords, not the actual concert pitch. If you want the concert pitch chords, then the chords need to be transposed up a whole step which makes them: E5, F#m7, A, B, and D. 

But since this is a “Rocky Mountain High” guitar lesson, I’ll be referring to the capo’d guitar chords. This keeps it simple. Here are examples of how these chords could be played on the fretboard...

D5 is played from strings 6 to 2. This allows us to use that low D bass note, and is a wonderful sound in Drop D tuning:

Em7 is played on all 6 strings and with just 2 fingers:

G can be played by simply moving the 2 fingered Em7 higher up the neck like this:

Same with A, just go 2 frets higher than G like this:

Finally, we have C which comes in during the verse and can be played from the 5th string down like this:

If you struggled to understand chords on the neck and navigate the fretboard for rhythm and lead then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here:

All right, now that you know the “Rocky Mountain High” chords, let’s next answer the question of…

Is Rocky Mountain High hard to play on guitar?

Yes. To be able to play the riff, and accompaniment like John Denver is surprisingly difficult. A player has to flow back and forth combining riffs and chords, sixteenth-note syncopated rhythms, and even navigate 2/4 time signature changes. Sure, you could make an easy version. Not play in Drop D, and use simple “cowboy” chords from the above shapes. But that’s different from what is on the recording, however either can work. 

What key is Rocky Mountain High in?

“Rocky Mountain High” as recorded by John Denver is in the key of E major concert pitch. But the guitar part is played in D major with a capo on the 2nd fret. So let’s look at this through the lens of guitar. So we’ll call it the key of D major. All but one chord in the progression fits the diatonic scale of D major which is built from the notes: 

D - E - F# - G - A - B - C#

Here’s how each chord relates to the key of D:

D5 (I chord)

D5 is a power chord, which means it consists of just the root (D) and the fifth (A), omitting the third, which determines major or minor.

In the key of D major, this acts as the I chord, the tonic (home) chord.

Em7 (ii7 Chord)

Em7 (E–G–B–D) fits directly in the key of D major. It's the ii7 chord, built on the second degree of the scale (E).

The ii7 chord is often used in progressions leading to the dominant or as part of a ii–V–I progression.

G (IV Chord)

G major (G–B–D) is the IV chord in the key of D major.

It’s a major chord based on the fourth degree of the D major scale. The IV chord often has a strong relationship with both the tonic (I) and dominant (V) chords.

A (V Chord)

A major (A–C#–E) is the V chord in the key of D major. It’s the dominant chord, which creates tension and typically resolves back to the tonic (D major).

The V chord plays a crucial role in creating movement and resolution in progressions.

C (bVII Chord - Borrowed)

C major (C–E–G) does not belong to the key of D major diatonically (it’s not part of the D major scale), but it can function as a borrowed chord.

C major is a bVII chord, often borrowed from the parallel minor (D minor). This chord can add a bluesy, folk, or modal flavor to a progression in D major.

Summary of Functions in the Key of D Major:

• D5 – I (Tonic, root)
• Em7 – ii7 (Supertonic, minor seventh chord)
• G – IV (Subdominant)
• A – V (Dominant)
• C – bVII (Borrowed from D minor, creates modal or folk-like sound)

So, in a progression, you might use these chords to add flavor and variation. The C chord, in particular, adds a touch of tension or color to the otherwise completely diatonic chord progression.

So that is the theory behind the chords. But remember – theory doesn’t mean a thing without a good…

Rocky Mountain High Strumming Pattern And Groove

The main underlying groove for “Rocky Mountain High” is a 16th-note feel. Sixteenth notes divide each beat of a 4/4 time signature into four equal parts. They can be counted like this:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

1, 2, 3, 4: The downbeats (the main beats)

e and a: The additional subdivisions between the downbeat and offbeat

&: The offbeat (halfway between the main beats)

When counting out loud, it sounds like:

"One e and a, Two e and a, Three e and a, Four e and a" 

Conclusion

So there you have it! Capturing the classic sound on guitar of “Rocky Mountain High” is not an easy task. But it’s a lot of FUN! 

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide right here now:  

Jon MacLennan