If you are looking for Count On Me guitar chords and strumming pattern, this guide gives you a simple acoustic guitar arrangement of Bruno Mars’s much-loved song. The arrangement uses familiar open chords and the DD UU DU strumming pattern, making it a good choice for beginners who want to play the song while singing along.
“Count On Me” has a warm, friendly feel that works particularly well on acoustic guitar. It is one of those songs where you do not need a complicated guitar arrangement to make it sound good. A steady rhythm, clean chord changes and a relaxed playing style are enough to carry the melody.
The song was written by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine, with the three also producing it as The Smeezingtons. It appears on Bruno Mars’s debut studio album Doo-Wops & Hooligans, released in 2010. The song was later released as a single in 2011.
In this Count On Me guitar chords and strumming pattern tutorial, you will find the chord progression, strumming video, complete chord placement, song credits and practical tips to help you learn the song without making the guitar part unnecessarily complicated.
Count On Me Guitar Chords and Strumming Pattern
The guitar arrangement mainly revolves around C, Em, Am, G, F, Dm and E. Most of these are straightforward open chords, although the F chord can require a little more finger strength if you are using the full barre version.
The song has several repeating sections, which is good news when you are learning it. Once the first verse and chorus are comfortable, the later sections become much easier to follow.
Count On Me Guitar Chords
The main chords used in this arrangement are:
C, Em, Am, G, F, Dm and E
The most common movement is around:
C → Em → Am → G → F
Another useful progression to practice is:
Dm → Em → F → G
These chord changes appear repeatedly throughout the song, so spending a little time getting them smooth will make the complete arrangement much easier.
Capo Position for Count On Me
Capo: No Capo
This arrangement is written using the chord shapes shown below without a capo. You can therefore start playing directly in the indicated chord shapes.
If you later want to change the pitch to suit your voice, a capo can be experimented with, but it is not required for this version.
Count On Me Strumming Pattern
The strumming pattern for this arrangement is:
DD UU DU
Where:
- D = Downstroke
- U = Upstroke
The pattern has a gentle bounce that suits the song nicely. Try not to attack the strings too heavily. A relaxed right hand and fairly light strokes will give you a cleaner acoustic sound.
Count On Me Strumming Video Guide
🎸 Count On Me Strumming Pattern Video Tutorial
Watch the video below to learn the DD UU DU strumming pattern used in this Count On Me guitar arrangement. Practice the pattern on a single chord first, then add the chord changes once the rhythm feels comfortable.
Strumming Pattern: DD UU DU
Difficulty Level
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
The chord progression is friendly for beginners, although the F chord may take some practice if you are not comfortable with barre chords. The strumming pattern is straightforward, but keeping it consistent while singing is where the real practice comes in.
If the full F barre chord is difficult, beginners can start with an easier F shape and gradually work towards the full chord.
🎵 Song Credits
Song Title: Count On Me
Movie/Album Name: Doo-Wops & Hooligans
Singer/Artist: Bruno Mars
Music Composition by: Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine
Lyrics by: Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine
Releasing Year: 2010
Language: English
Country: United States
“Count On Me” is a song by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars from his debut studio album Doo-Wops & Hooligans. The album was released in 2010, and the song was later issued as a single in 2011.
The song was written and produced by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine under the name The Smeezingtons.
The song’s theme of friendship and being there for someone is also what gives it such a natural acoustic-guitar character. It works well for casual playing, beginner guitar practice and sing-along sessions.
🎸 Count On Me Guitar Chords with Lyrics
The chords are placed directly before the words where the chord changes occur. The song is divided into Verse, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Bridge and Outro sections so you can learn it in smaller pieces.
[Verse 1]
If you ever (C) find yourself stuck in the middle of the (Em) sea
I'll sail the (Am) world to (G) find (F) you
If you (C) ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see
I'll be (Am) the light (G) to guide (F) you
[Pre-Chorus]
Find (Dm) out what we're (Em) made of
When we are (F) called to help our (G) friends in need
[Chorus]
You can (C) count on me like one, (Em) two, three
I'll (Am) be there (G)
And I know (F) when I need it
I can (C) count on you like four, (Em) three, two
And (Am) you'll be (G) there
'cos that's what (F) friends are s'posed to do
Oh (C) yeah
Ooh ooh ooh (Em) ooh ooh.....
Ooh ooh (Am) ooh ooh (G) ooh..
(F) Yeah (G) yeah
[Verse 2]
If you're (C) tossin' and you're turnin' and you just can't fall (Em) asleep
I'll (Am) sing a song (G) beside (F) you
And if you ever (C) forget how much you really mean to (E) me
Every day I (Em) will (G) remind (F) you, ohh
[Pre-Chorus]
Find (Dm) out what we're (Em) made of
When we are (F) called to help our (G) friends in need
[Chorus]
You can (C) count on me like one, (Em) two, three
I'll (Am) be there (G)
And I know (F) when I need it
I can (C) count on you like four, (Em) three, two
And (Am) you'll be (G) there
'cos that's what (F) friends are s'posed to do
Oh (C) yeah
Ooh ooh ooh (Em) ooh ooh.....
Ooh ooh (Am) ooh ooh (G) ooh..
(F) Yeah (G) yeah
[Bridge]
You'll (Dm) always (Em) have my (Am) shoulder when (G) you cry
I'll (Dm) never let (Em) go, never (Am) say goodbye, (G) you know
[Final Chorus]
You can (C) count on me like one, (Em) two, three
I'll (Am) be there (G)
And I know (F) when I need it
I can (C) count on you like four, (Em) three, two
And (Am) you'll be (G) there
'cos that's what (F) friends are s'posed to do
Oh (C) yeah
Ooh ooh ooh (Em) ooh ooh.....
Ooh ooh (Am) ooh ooh (G) ooh..
(F) Yeah (G) yeah🎯 Tips for Playing Count On Me on Guitar
1. Start with the C Chord
The song begins around the C chord, so use it as your starting point. Practice moving from:
C → Em → Am → G → F
This sequence appears throughout the verses and chorus, making it one of the most useful progressions to practice.
Do not worry about speed at first. Concentrate on making every chord ring clearly.
2. Practice DD UU DU on One Chord
Before trying the complete song, pick one chord and play:
DD UU DU
again and again.
You want the right hand to become comfortable with the pattern before introducing chord changes. Once your strumming hand knows what it is doing, your attention can move to the left hand and vocals.
3. Keep the Rhythm Moving
One of the most common problems when learning a new strumming pattern is stopping the right hand during chord changes.
Try to keep your right hand moving even when you are preparing the next chord. The smoother the movement, the less noticeable small timing mistakes become.
4. Give the Song a Light Touch
Count On Me has a gentle, positive character, so heavy strumming can easily overpower the melody.
Use relaxed downstrokes and lighter upstrokes. You can increase the volume slightly during the chorus, but there is no need to attack the strings.
5. Work on the F Chord
The F chord is likely to be the biggest hurdle for a beginner.
If you are not comfortable with a full barre chord, start with a simpler F shape. Once your fingers become stronger, move towards the full version.
The important thing is to keep practicing the transition:
C → F
because it appears frequently in the song.
6. Practice the Dm → Em → F → G Section
The pre-chorus has a different movement:
Dm → Em → F → G
Practice this sequence separately.
Once you can move through these four chords without stopping, the transition into the chorus will feel much more natural.
7. Learn the Chorus First
The chorus is probably the most recognizable part of the song, so it is a good place to build confidence.
Practice:
C → Em → Am → G → F
with the DD UU DU rhythm.
Once this feels comfortable, add the vocals.
8. Do Not Try to Sing Too Early
It is tempting to sing along immediately because the melody is familiar. However, learning the chord changes and strumming pattern at the same time as the vocals can make things unnecessarily difficult.
Play the verse without singing first. Then add the vocals once your hands can keep the rhythm without conscious effort.
9. Use the Strumming Video
The embedded video guide above is useful for getting the DD UU DU rhythm into your right hand.
Watch the movement carefully and then copy it slowly. After a few repetitions, try playing the pattern without looking at the screen.
10. Add Your Own Dynamics
Once you know the complete song, experiment with volume.
Keep the verses quieter and let the chorus breathe a little more. You can also slightly emphasize the first downstroke of the pattern to give the rhythm more shape.
These small details can make a simple chord arrangement sound much more natural.
🎸 Easy Practice Routine
If you are learning Count On Me guitar chords for the first time, try breaking your practice into three short stages.
First, spend a few minutes practicing the chord changes without strumming. Focus particularly on C to Em, Em to Am, Am to G, G to F, and Dm to Em.
Next, take one chord and practice DD UU DU until the rhythm feels comfortable.
Finally, combine the two. Start with the first verse, move into the pre-chorus and then play the chorus.
Once you can play those sections without stopping, the rest of the song becomes much easier because many of the chord patterns repeat.
🎶 Final Thoughts
This Count On Me guitar chords and strumming pattern arrangement keeps things straightforward so you can concentrate on playing and singing rather than worrying about complicated guitar techniques.
With no capo, a handful of open chords and the DD UU DU rhythm, the song is accessible to beginner and intermediate guitar players alike. The F chord may take some extra work, but it is also a useful chord to learn because it appears in countless songs.
Take the rhythm slowly, keep your right hand relaxed and practice the chord changes separately before putting everything together. Once the pattern becomes second nature, you can focus on the part that really makes this song enjoyable: singing it with a guitar that keeps quietly moving underneath.
