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Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive Chords

ChordsAm, Dm, G, C, F, E, E7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

AmFirstIwasafraidIwasDmpetrified
KeptthinkingGIcouldneverlivewithoutyouCbymyside
ButthenIFspentsomanynightsthinkingDmhowyoudidmewrong
AndIgrewEstrongandIlearnedE7howtogetalong
Andsoyou’rebackAmbackfromouterDmspace
IjustwalkedGintofindyouherewiththatsadClookuponyourface
IshouldhaveFchangedthatstupidlock
IshouldhaveDmmadeyouleaveyourkey
IfIhadEknownforjustsecondyou’dbeE7backtobotherme
GoonnowAmgo,walkouttheDmdoor
JustturnGaroundnow,causeyou’renotCwelcomeanymore
FWeren’tyoutheonewhotriedtoDmhurtmewithgoodbyes?
DidyouthinkI’dEcrumble?DidyouthinkI’dE7laydownanddie?
OhnonotAmI,IwillDmsurvive
ForasGlongasIknowhowtoloveICknowI’llstayalive
I’vegotFallmylifetolive,I’vegotDmallmylovetogive
AndI’llEsurvive,IwillE7survive,heyhey
IttookAmallthestrengthIhadnottoDmfallapart,
KepttryingGhardtomendthepiecesofmyCbrokenheart
AndIspentFohsomanynightsjustfeelingDmsorryformyself
IusedtoEcry,butnowIE7holdmyheaduphigh
AndyouseeAmme,somebodyDmnew
I’mnotthatGchaineduplittlepersonstillinClovewithyou
AndsoyouFfeltlikedroppingin,andjustDmexpectmetobefree
AndnowI’mEsavin’allmylovin’forE7someonewho’slovin’me
GoonnowAmgo,walkouttheDmdoor
JustturnGaroundnow,causeyou’renotCwelcomeanymore
FWeren’tyoutheonewhotriedtoDmhurtmewithgoodbyes?
DidyouthinkI’dEcrumble?DidyouthinkI’dE7laydownanddie?
OhnonotAmI,IwillDmsurvive
ForasGlongasIknowhowtoloveICknowI’llstayalive
I’vegotFallmylifetolive,I’vegotDmallmylovetogive
AndI’llEsurvive,IwillE7survive,heyhey
AlbumOur Tune
GenresPop, Soul
Year1986
KeyAm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play I Will Survive on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive on guitar requires 7 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.

I Will Survive uses these transitions most often: Am → Dm (8), C → F (8), and Dm → E (8). 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 Am - Dm chord transition.

1. Am → Dm chord transition

To move from Am to Dm:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

Am to Dm

2. Dm → G chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to G:

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

Dm to G

3. G → C chord transition

Switching from G to C:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

G to C

4. C → F chord transition

To move from C to F:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

C to F

5. F → Dm chord transition

Switching from F to Dm:

  1. While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  4. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

6. Dm → E chord transition

To move from Dm to E:

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

7. E → E7 chord transition

Switching from E to E7:

  1. While playing E, lift your ring finger from D string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on G string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

8. E7 → Am chord transition

Switching from E7 to Am:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in I Will Survive.

  • I Will Survive includes 63 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • I Will Survive contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how I Will Survive connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Dm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
    • Dm → G: 16%
    • Dm → E: 1%
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → Dm: 7%