Apologize by OneRepublic is played in the key of C at a beginner difficulty level, originally released in the 2000s. It uses 4 chords — Am F C G — arranged in the vi-IV-I-V progression.
About the vi-IV-I-V progression
The vi-IV-I-V progression is a rotation of the classic four-chord pop pattern that starts on the relative minor. Because it opens on a minor chord and resolves upward, it feels darker and more emotionally weighted than starting on the tonic. It's a favorite of ballads and songs with a melancholic mood.
Playing in the key of C
C major is the theoretical home key of Western music: all natural notes, no sharps or flats. On guitar, C, Am, Em, F, and G are the working chords. The one wrinkle is F, which as the IV chord requires either a barre or a partial shape — the first "difficult" chord most beginners meet.
Related songs
More songs in the key of C
Learn to play Apologize by OneRepublic on guitar. It sits in the key of C and uses the vi-IV-I-V progression with the chords Am F C G.