The Beatles – Two of Us Chords & Guitar Lesson

If you’re a fan of The Beatles and looking for a fun acoustic song to add to your setlist… 

Then this post may be just what you’re looking for.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the opening cut from the legendary Let it Be album.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Two of Us” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Two of Us?

“Two of Us” was credited to the typical Lennon/McCartney songwriting partnership. However, it was primarily written by Paul McCartney. It was recorded at Apple Studios in London on January 31, 1969. These sessions later became known as the Get Back/Let It Be project. 

“Two of Us” was released as the opening cut on the legendary Let It Be album in 1970. 

Earlier arrangements of this tune were tried out in a heavier rock vibe. But the final version ended up being this folk-style acoustic tune. In my opinion, with the soft and sweeter lyrical content, I can’t see it really working as a rock song. So the final arrangement with Lennon and McCartney on acoustics was most likely the best choice available.

The original working title was “On Our Way Home,” which is one of the top lyrics in the song.

Although “Two of Us” didn’t become a huge hit single. Its parent album Let It Be reached number one in both the UK and the US. Plus, it earned a Grammy for the soundtrack to the accompanying film. 

Over the years, this tune has become widely loved by many Beatles fans. Another interesting note, which isn’t apparent unless you look under the hood, musically speaking, and that is the time signature changes throughout.

The song uses 4/4, 2/4, and 3/4 time signatures.

This is probably the trickiest part of the tune. Getting these rhythms right is key to sounding like the record.

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for Two of Us?

The tuning for "Two of Us” is standard tuning. Standard tuning is spelled: E, A, D, G, B, and E. 

Here are the strings:

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

All right! 

Now that you know the tuning for “Two of Us”, let’s next talk about…

Two of Us Chords

To play “Two of Us”, you’ll need to know 8 main chords they are G, C, C/B, Am7, D, Bb, Dm, and Gm7. These chords are a mix of open-position chords and bar chords. 

If bar chords are giving you all kinds of aches and pains, and you haven’t yet discovered how to play them effortlessly, go here: https://www.jonmaclennan.com/7mistakes

Let’s take a look at a few ways these shapes can be played on the fretboard:

G is played in a 3-finger folk-style like this:

C is played from the 5th string down like so:

C/B moves the bass note on the previous chord, and is also played from the 5th string down like this:

Am7 uses 4 fingers in the fretting hand like so:

D is played from the 4th string down like this:

Now these final 3 chords come in during the bridge when the song (momentarily) changes keys, starting with Bb:

Dm is played from the 4th string down like so:

Finally, Gm7 is played using a common Paul McCartney-style jazz voicing like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard for RHYTHM and LEAD guitar, and want to discover the easiest and fastest way. Then get your hands on my free Fretboard Guide PDF right here now:  

Is Two of Us hard to play on guitar?

I would say playing “Two of Us” on guitar is going to require an intermediate skill level. Most of the songs' guitar parts aren’t too difficult. However, the time signature changes, and the bar chords that come in during the bridge move it up beyond beginner level.

So, take your time with this one. 

What key is Two of Us in?

“Two of Us”, as recorded by The Beatles, is in the key of G major. The primary scale for the song is the G major scale, which is built using the notes G, A, B, C, D, E, and F#. 

Let’s break down the chords and how they function in the key of G major:

G

Notes: G, B, D

Function: This is the I chord, the tonic. It is the “home” chord in the key of G major. 

C

Notes: C, E, G

Function: This is the IV chord, the subdominant. It’s built on the fourth degree of the G major scale. It used to move away from the tonic and often toward the dominant chord.

C/B
Notes: C, E, G, with a B in the bass

Function: This is a IV chord with a non-root note in the bass. The B note in the bass creates a descending bass line. This comes in during the verse progression of “Two of Us”.

Am7

Notes: A, C, E, G

Function: This is the ii7 chord, the supertonic minor 7th. This chord is a part of a walk-down progression, which is in the verse section. 

D

Notes: D, F#, A

Function: This is the V chord, the dominant. It is built on the fifth degree of the G major scale. It creates a strong sense of tension and a powerful pull, wanting to resolve back to the tonic (I) chord.

Then, during the bridge, there is a key change.

This key change goes to Bb major. The Bb major scale is the primary scale used here. Let’s take a look at the final chords from this key’s perspective.

B♭

Notes: B♭, D, F

Function: This is the I chord in B♭major. Any progression in this key will feel like it is leading back to this chord.

Dm

Notes: D, F, A

Function: This is the iii chord, the mediant. It is built on the third degree of the B♭ major scale. It can be used as a substitute for the tonic chord, as it shares two notes (D and F). 

Gm7 

Notes: G, B♭, D, F

Function: This is the vi7 chord, the submediant minor 7th. It is built on the sixth degree of the B♭ major scale and is the relative minor of B♭ major. It shares the same notes as B♭ major (B♭, D, F) but from a different root, giving it a more mellow or melancholic quality. It is a very common chord in pop music.

All right!

So that’s the theory. Next, let’s look at…

What is the strumming pattern for Two of Us?

The main underlying feel for “Two of Us” is a steady, 8th-note feel. In 4/4 time, 8th notes divide each beat into two equal parts, creating a steady, walking rhythm. The counting for 8th notes in a measure looks like this:

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

The numbers (1, 2, 3, 4) represent the main beats in the measure. The "&" divides each beat into two evenly spaced subdivisions. 

When counted out loud, it sounds like: 

"One-and, Two-and, Three-and, Four-and." 

Here’s an example of a strumming pattern in the style of “Two of Us”:

Conclusion

To wrap it up, “Two of Us” is 1) a ton of fun to play and 2) a classic as the opening track from “Let It Be”.

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

Jon MacLennan