Quick Answer
“Way Maker” is built on a simple 4-1-5-6m chord progression, which means every version of the song in every key uses the four chord, the one chord, the five chord, and the six minor chord of whatever key you are in. Once you know this pattern, you do not need to memorize twelve separate chord sets. You only need to find those four positions in the key the worship leader calls, whether that is B major (the original recorded key), E with a capo, or any of the other ten keys.
Key takeaways:
- “Way Maker” follows a 4-1-5-6m progression in every key, built from the subdominant, tonic, dominant, and relative minor chords.
- The original recorded version sits in B major, commonly played as E shapes with a capo on the 2nd fret.
- Knowing the interval pattern lets you transpose instantly: find the 1 chord, then count up a fourth, a fifth, and a major sixth to get the rest.
- Some keys are far more guitar-friendly than others; capo placement can keep you in familiar open shapes no matter what key is called.
- Learning the Nashville Number System and the CAGED system together is what makes fast, on-the-fly transposing possible.
“Way Maker” is one of the most-played worship songs in churches around the world. Originally written by Nigerian gospel artist Sinach and later popularized by Leeland, Michael W. Smith, and Bethel Music, the song has become a staple in contemporary worship. For gospel and worship guitarists, learning to play it in every key is not optional. It is essential.
This guide gives you the complete chord chart for “Way Maker” in every key, explains the chord intervals behind the song, and shows you how to transpose on the fly so you are never caught off guard when the worship leader calls a different key.
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What Is the Chord Interval Pattern in Way Maker?
Before diving into the charts, understanding the interval structure is what separates guitarists who know a song from guitarists who understand it.
“Way Maker” follows a 4-1-5-6m progression. In music theory, these numbers refer to scale degrees, the position of each chord within the key you are playing in.
The 4 is the four chord (subdominant). The 1 is the one chord (tonic, or home chord). The 5 is the five chord (dominant). The 6m is the six minor chord (relative minor).
This is one of the most common and emotionally powerful progressions in all of gospel and contemporary worship music. It creates a sense of longing, resolution, and emotional depth that works perfectly under a song about God’s faithfulness.
Once you know the intervals, you can play “Way Maker” in any key without memorizing every new set of chords from scratch. You simply find the 4, 1, 5, and 6m chord in whatever key the worship leader calls, and you are ready to go. Guitar Intervals Explained covers the basics.
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What Is the Original Key of Way Maker?
The most common version guitarists learn is built around the key of E with a capo at the 2nd fret, which sounds in B major. However, for this guide we are working in open and barre chord form for every key so you can play without a capo and understand the full picture.
In the key of B major, the chords are:
| Interval | Chord |
|---|---|
| 4 | E |
| 1 | B |
| 5 | F# |
| 6m | G#m |
Chord order: E, B, F#, G#m. This is the foundation. Every other key below is built from the same 4-1-5-6m formula applied to a new root.
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Way Maker Chord Chart in Every Key
The table below moves chromatically through all 12 keys. Each row shows you exactly which chords to play for the 4, 1, 5, and 6m positions.
| Key | 4 chord | 1 chord | 5 chord | 6m chord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | E | B | F# | G#m |
| C | F | C | G | Am |
| Db | Gb | Db | Ab | Bbm |
| D | G | D | A | Bm |
| Eb | Ab | Eb | Bb | Cm |
| E | A | E | B | C#m |
| F | Bb | F | C | Dm |
| Gb | Cb | Gb | Db | Ebm |
| G | C | G | D | Em |
| Ab | Db | Ab | Eb | Fm |
| A | D | A | E | F#m |
| Bb | Eb | Bb | F | Gm |
Want chord charts like this for more worship songs? Members on Patreon get new gospel guitar charts every week, in every key, ready to use on Sunday.
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Which Keys Are Guitar-Friendly, and Where Do You Put the Capo?
Some keys are naturally easier on guitar than others. Here is a quick reference for how to use a capo to stay in guitar-friendly shapes while hitting the right sounding key.
| Sounding Key | Capo Position | Chord Shapes You Use |
|---|---|---|
| B | 2nd fret | D, A, E, F#m shapes (key of A) |
| C | 3rd fret | D, A, E, F#m shapes (key of A) |
| Db | 4th fret | D, A, E, F#m shapes (key of A) |
| D | 5th fret | D, A, E, F#m shapes (key of A) |
| D | 2nd fret | C, G, D, Em shapes (key of C) |
| E | No capo | A, E, B, C#m (open key of E) |
| F | 1st fret | E, B, F#, G#m shapes (key of E) |
| G | No capo | C, G, D, Em (open key of G) |
| A | No capo | D, A, E, F#m (open key of A) |
| Bb | 1st fret | D, A, E, F#m shapes (key of A) |
Pro tip: the key of E with no capo is the easiest open-chord version for beginners. The key of B with capo 2 (playing A shapes) is the most common way guitarists play the song in a worship setting.
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How Do You Quickly Transpose Way Maker to Any Key?
If a worship leader calls a key you have not memorized yet, here is the fastest method for figuring it out on the spot. Step 1. Identify the 1 chord. That is the key you are in. If they say “we are in Ab,” your 1 chord is Ab.
Step 2. Count up a perfect fourth (5 half steps) to find the 4 chord. Ab up a fourth is Db. Step 3. Count up a perfect fifth (7 half steps) from the 1 chord to find the 5 chord. Ab up a fifth is Eb.
Step 4. Count up a major sixth (9 half steps) from the 1 chord to find the 6m chord. Ab up a major sixth is Fm. Result for the key of Ab: Db, Ab, Eb, Fm.
This works in every key, every time. Once this process becomes automatic, you will never be lost on stage again. See How to Transpose Guitar Chords Without Using a Capo.
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Playing Tips for Way Maker on Guitar
Strumming pattern. The most common strumming pattern for “Way Maker” is a gentle eighth-note feel with slight emphasis on beats 2 and 4. In a band context, the guitar sits best when it locks in with the hi-hat and avoids overplaying. A simple down-strum pattern on beats 1, 2, 3, and 4 with a slight lift on beat 4 keeps things clean under a full worship band.
For acoustic solo playing, a fingerpicked arpeggiated pattern adds warmth and movement without competing with vocals.
Chord voicings. In a full worship band setting, upper register voicings (playing chords higher on the neck) cut through the mix better than open chords. If you are playing with a piano or keyboard player, try moving your chord shapes above the 5th fret to avoid clashing in the low-mid frequency range.
If you are the only harmonic instrument, open chords or first-position barre chords work well and fill more sonic space.
Dynamics. “Way Maker” is a song that builds. Start softer in the verses, open up in the chorus, and leave room for the bridge section to be the emotional peak. On guitar, this means lighter picking or muting during quieter moments and strumming through the chord more fully as the song opens up. Playing Gospel with Feel: Rhythm, Space, and Time has more on dynamics.
Why Does Knowing Intervals Make You a Better Worship Guitarist?
Every chart in this article was generated from one simple formula: 4-1-5-6m. If you had to memorize a brand-new set of chords every time a song changed keys, you would spend your whole practice session on one song. When you know the intervals, you know every key.
This is exactly why learning the Nashville Number System and the CAGED chord system is so valuable for gospel and worship guitarists. The Nashville Number System lets you describe any song as a sequence of intervals (4-1-5-6, in this case) so you can play it instantly in any key. The CAGED system gives you the chord shapes to execute those intervals anywhere on the neck. How to Play “Break Every Chain” on Guitar in Any Key uses the same approach.
If you want to go deeper on both of these concepts, the books Learn to Play in Any Key and Gospel Guitar Chord Voicings cover exactly this kind of practical, on-the-fly guitar knowledge for worship and gospel musicians.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What key is “Way Maker” originally in?
The original recorded version sits in B major, most commonly played on guitar as E-shape chords with a capo on the 2nd fret.
What chord progression does “Way Maker” use?
“Way Maker” follows a 4-1-5-6m progression: the subdominant, tonic, dominant, and relative minor chords of whatever key it is played in.
What is the easiest key to play “Way Maker” in on guitar?
The key of E with no capo is typically the easiest for beginners, since it uses simple open A, E, B, and C#m shapes.
How do I transpose “Way Maker” to a new key quickly?
Identify the 1 chord (the key you are in), then count up a perfect fourth for the 4 chord, a perfect fifth for the 5 chord, and a major sixth for the 6m chord.
Why does learning the Nashville Number System help with worship guitar?
It lets you describe a song as a sequence of intervals rather than fixed chords, so you can play it instantly in any key a worship leader calls.
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Final Thoughts
“Way Maker” is one of those songs that every worship and gospel guitarist will play dozens of times over their career. Knowing it in every key, and understanding why the chords work the way they do, is the difference between a guitarist who can only play what they memorized and one who can follow any worship leader, anywhere, without missing a beat.
Bookmark this page, print out the chord chart, and start with the key of B or E. Then work through one or two new keys each week until all 12 feel natural. The time you invest now will pay off every single Sunday.
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Looking to deepen your gospel guitar vocabulary? Browse more chord breakdowns, technique guides, and song tutorials on the Learn Gospel Guitar blog.
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