Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
[Opening]
[G] [Em] [G] [Em]
[G]I get up in the [Em]evening,
And I [G]ain’t got [Em]nothing to [G]say
I come home in the [Em]morning,
[G]I go to bed [Em]feeling the same [C]way
I ain’t nothing but [Am]tired,
[C]Man I’m just [Am]tired and bored with my [G]self
Hey there [Em]baby, [G]I could [Em]use just a little [D]help
[chorus]
[D]You can’t start a fire,
You can’t start a fire without a [C]spark
This gun’s for [Am]hire,
[C]Even if we’re just [Am]dancing in the [G]dark [Em]
[interlude]
[G] [Em]
[verse 2]
[G]Messages keep getting [Em]clearer, [G]radio’s on
And I’m [Em]moving around the [G]place
I check my look in the [Em]mirror,
[G]Wanna change my [Em]clothes my hair my [C]face
[verse 3]
Man I ain’t getting [Am]nowhere,
[C]I’m just [Am]living in a dump like [G]this
There’s something happening [Em]somewhere,
[G]Baby [Em]I just know that there [D]is
[chorus]
[D]You can’t start a fire,
You can’t start a fire without a [C]spark
This gun’s for [Am]hire,
[C]Even if we’re just [Am]dancing in the [G]dark [Em]
[interlude]
[G] [Em]
[verse 4]
[Em]You sit around getting [G]older
[C]There’s a joke here [D]somewhere and it’s on [Em]me
I’ll shake the world off my [G]shoulders
[C]Come on baby the [D]laughs on me
[verse 5]
[G]Stay on the streets of [Em]this town,
[G]And they’ll be [Em]carving you up al [G]right
They say you gotta stay [Em]hungry,
[G]Hey baby, I’m [Em]just about starving to [C]night
[verse 6]
I’m dying for [Am]action,
[C]Sick of sitting round [Am]here trying to write this [G]book
I need a love re [Em]action,
[G]Come on [Em]baby give me just one [D]look
[verse 7]
[D]You can’t start a fire,
Sitting round crying on a broken [C]heart
This gun’s for [Am]hire,
[C]Even if we’re just [Am]dancing in the [G]dark
[Closing]
[D]You can’t start a fire,
Worrying about your little world falling a [C]part
This gun’s for [Am]hire,
[C]Even if we’re just [Am]dancing in the [G]dark [Em]
[G]Even if we’re just [Em]dancing in the [G]dark [Em]
How to play Dancing in the Dark on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark on guitar requires 5 chords and 8 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Dancing in the Dark uses these transitions most often: G → Em (27), Em → G (21), and C → Am (14). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - Em chord transition.
1. G → Em chord transition
To move from G to Em;
- While playing G, lift your index finger from A string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
2. Em → C chord transition
To move from Em to C;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
3. C → Am chord transition
To move from C to Am;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
4. Am → G chord transition
To move from Am to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
5. Em → D chord transition
To move from Em to D;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
- Place index finger on G string fret 2.
6. D → C chord transition
To move from D to C;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
7. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
8. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
Dancing in the Dark chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Dancing in the Dark.
- Dancing in the Dark includes 93 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Dancing in the Dark contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Dancing in the Dark connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → D: 24%
After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).- Em → C: 26%
- Em → G: 18%