How to play "Rain" Chords
on acoustic guitar
Quick Summary
Key: Bb major (concert)
Tempo: about 92 BPM
Difficulty: Easy to Intermediate (easy with capo, harder with barres)
Recommended capo: 3rd fret for open-chord comfort
Chords
The record sits in a flat key, so the pure concert shapes are mostly barres. If you want it to sound close fast, use capo 3 and play open chords. Your left hand will thank you.
Original key chord shapes
Bb (x13331) or easier (xx3331)
Eb (x65343) or easier (xx1343)
F (133211) or easier (xx3211)
Gm (355333) or easier (xx0333)
Cm (x35543) or easier (x3554x)
Beginner-Friendly (capo 3) chord shapes
G (320003) sounds as Bb
C (x32010) sounds as Eb
D (xx0232) sounds as F
Em (022000) sounds as Gm
Am (x02210) sounds as Cm
Quick mapping with capo 3: G = Bb, C = Eb, D = F, Em = Gm, Am = Cm.
Strumming Pattern
Set a metronome near 92 BPM and aim for a brushed, rainy texture. Keep your wrist loose and your hand moving like a pendulum.
Count: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & Strum: D D U U D U
Dynamics tip: land downstrokes a touch heavier, but keep the total motion small. If it gets harsh, strum fewer strings in the verse.
How to play: step by step
- Tools: acoustic guitar, capo (optional), pick (optional), metronome
- Supplies: chair, phone timer for practice loops
- TotalTime: about 30 minutes for a first clean run
- Tune to standard E A D G B E. Give the B string extra attention because small tuning drift can make these chords sound tense.
- Choose your lane: capo 3 with open chords for comfort, or no capo with barres for the exact shapes. Commit for a week before switching.
- Mute-strum the rhythm first. Left hand lightly touches strings, right hand plays the pattern. This trains the groove without chord panic.
- Learn the main loop with slow, silent chord changes. Place fingers, then strum. Do not chase the beat with last-second grabs.
- Add the strum at 60 BPM for two minutes. Then raise by 4 BPM steps until you land near 92 BPM without tightening your shoulder.
- Work transitions in 4-bar loops. The tricky part is the half-second where your right hand wants to stop. Keep it moving.
Section guide
I will write both versions so you can pick your comfort level. I will show short loops, not a full chart.
Intro (2 to 4 bars, very soft):
Concert: Bb Eb F Bb Capo 3: G C D G
Verse (minor color, keep it gentle):
Concert: Gm Eb Cm Bb Capo 3: Em C Am G
Pre-chorus lift (do not rush):
Concert: Eb F Gm Eb Capo 3: C D Em C
Chorus (open the sound a little):
Concert: Bb Eb F Bb Capo 3: G C D G
Bridge (controlled intensity, smaller strums):
Concert: Cm Eb Bb F Capo 3: Am C G D
Common Mistakes & Pro-Tips
- Barre chord buzzing: roll your index finger slightly toward the thumb side. Squeeze less than you think, then relax after every strum.
- Choppy changes: keep an anchor finger when possible. With capo 3, use your ring finger as a guide toward the G shape area.
- Right hand too loud: shrink the strum so you brush the top 4 strings in verses. Save fuller strums for choruses.
- Tempo creep: practice with downstrokes only at full tempo, then add upstrokes back in. The groove should feel effortless.
- Pick vs fingers: fingers can sound glassy and soft in verses. A thin pick can brighten the chorus. Try both and listen.
Song Context & Meaning
Plot
Musically, it is built on a calm pulse and a warm major-key chorus, with a hint of minor color in the verse. That contrast is your roadmap for dynamics: intimate verse, wider chorus, then back to calm.
Song meaning & metaphor
The central image treats rain like love that cleans and renews. The best guitar versions lean into steadiness and shimmer, not force. Ask yourself: does my strum feel like falling rain, or like a marching band?
Facts and connections
"Rain" appears on the album "Erotica" and was released as a single in 1993. Madonna co-wrote and co-produced it with Shep Pettibone, and the video is associated with director Mark Romanek. Compared with the more provocative edges of that era, this song lands as a reflective, melodic breather that rewards control and touch.
Sources
- AZ Chords (section progressions, capo mapping, suggested strum pattern)
- SongBPM and TuneBat (tempo and key reference)
- Wikipedia (release context, credits, and era notes)
FAQ
- Do I need capo 3 to play it?
- No. Capo 3 is the easiest way to get the right concert sound with open chords, but you can also play barre shapes without capo.
- What is the main strumming feel?
- A steady 4/4 brush. Keep the wrist loose and let the chords ring into each other, especially in the verse.
- Which chords should I learn first?
- Start with the chorus loop. If you use capo 3, learn G, C, and D as your core shapes before adding Em and Am.
- Why do my chords sound harsh?
- You are likely strumming too many strings too hard. Reduce the range of motion and aim closer to the neck for a warmer tone.
- How can I make it sound closer to the record on one guitar?
- Arpeggiate beat 1 of each bar lightly, then return to the brush pattern. Keep reverb subtle if you use effects.
Madonna-Rain
This song is very simple to enjoy. Maybe don't be exactly like the album version,
cause the original song have so much syntesizer and sound effects.
Good luck! Heitor-Brazil
I feel it, it's coming
Chorus:
Bb Eb
Rain, feel it on my finger tips
F
Hear it on my window pane
Bb
Your love's coming down like
Eb
Rain, wash away my sorrow
F
Take away my pain
Bb
Your love's coming down like rain
Eb
When your lips are burning mine
F Bb
And you take the time to tell me how you feel
Eb
When you listen to my words
F Cm
And I know you've heard, I know it's real
Eb
Rain is what the thunder brings
Gm Eb
For the first time I can hear my heart sing
Gm Eb
Call me a fool but I know I'm not
F7/4 F
I'm gonna stand out here on the mountain top till I feel your
Chorus
Eb
When you looked into my eyes
F Bb
And you said goodbye could you see my tears
Eb F
When I turned the other way did you hear me say
Cm Eb
I'd wait for all the dark clouds bursting in a perfect sky
Gm Eb
You promised me when you said goodbye
Gm Eb
That you'd return when the storm was done
F7/4 F
And now I'll wait for the light, I'll wait for the sun till I feel your
(chorus)
C# Eb C# Eb
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
C# Eb F
And I say, never go away
(C F G)
Waiting is the hardest thing (It's strange I feel like I've know you before)
I tell myself that if I believe in you (And I want to understand you)
In the dream of you (More and more)
With all my heart and all my soul (When I'm with you)
That by sheer force of will (I feel like a magical child )
I will raise you from the ground (Everything strange)
And without a sound you'll appear (Everything wild)
And surrender to me, to love
Am F
Rain is what the thunder brings
Am F
For the first time I can hear my heart sing
Am F
Call me a fool but I know I'm not
G7/4 G
I'm gonna stand out here on the mountain top till I feel your
Bb
Rain, I feel it, it's coming
F
Your love's coming down like
(repeat)
Chorus
C
Rain, I feel it, it's coming
G
Your love's coming down like
(repeat)
{I'll stand out on the moutaintop and wait for you to call my name]
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
F7/4-131311
G7/4-353533