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Dion - Runaround Sue Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, Am, F, G, G7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram

[Opening]
[C]Here’s my story, it’s sad but true
[Am]It’s about a girl that I once knew
[F]She took my love, then ran around
[G]With every single guy in town

[chorus]
[C]Hey, hey, um da da da di di
[Am]Hey, hey, um da da da di di
[F]Hey, hey, um da da da di di
[G7]Hey, hey, oooooooooohhhhh

[verse 2]
[C]I guess I should have known it from the very start
[Am]This girl would leave me with a broken heart
[F]Now listen people what I’m telling you
[G]“I keep away from Runaround Sue”

[Closing]
[C]Her amazing lips and the smile from her face
[Am]The touch of her hand and this girl’s warm embrace
[F]So if you don’t want to cry like I do
[G]Keep away from Runaround Sue.

[chorus]
[C]Hey, hey, um da da da di di
[Am]Hey, hey, um da da da di di
[F]Hey, hey, um da da da di di
[G7]Hey, hey, oooooooooohhhhh

[chorus]
[F]She like to travel around
[C]She’ll love you, then she’ll put you down
[F]Now, people let me put you wise
[G]She goes out with other guys

[chorus]
[C]And the moral of the story from the guy who knows
[Am]I’ve been in love and my love still grows
[F]Ask any fool that she ever knew
[G]they’ll say: Keep away from Runaround Sue

[chorus]
[C]Hey, hey, um da da da di di
[Am]Hey, hey, um da da da di di
[F]Hey, hey, um da da da di di
[G7]Hey, hey, oooooooooohhhhh

[chorus]
[F]She like to travel around
[C]She’ll love you, then she’ll put you down
[F]Now, people let me put you wise
[G]She goes out with other guys

[chorus]
[C]And the moral of the story from the guy who knows
[Am]I’ve been in love and my love still grows
[F]Ask any fool that she ever knew
[G]they’ll say: Keep away from Runaround Sue

[chorus]
[C]Hey, hey, um da da da di di
[Am]Hey, hey, um da da da di di
[F]Hey, hey, um da da da di di
[G7]Hey, hey, oooooooooohhhhh [C]

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SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistDion DiMucci
AlbumSingle
GenresRock and roll
Year1961
KeyC

How to play Runaround Sue on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Dion DiMucci - Runaround Sue on guitar requires 5 chords and 7 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.

Runaround Sue uses these transitions most often: Am → F (9), C → Am (9), and F → G (7). 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 C - Am chord transition.

1. C → Am chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram

To move from C to Am;

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

2. Am → F chord transition

Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

To move from Am 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. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.
Am to F

3. F → G chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

To move from F to G;

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

4. G → C chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

To move 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.
G to C

5. F → G7 chord transition

To move from F to G7;

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

6. G7 → C chord transition

To move from G7 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 1 and place it on A string fret 3.

7. F → C chord transition

To move from F to C;

  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 B string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  4. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.

Runaround Sue chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Runaround Sue.

  • Runaround Sue includes 44 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Runaround Sue contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Runaround Sue connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → F: 16%
    • C → Am: 10%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.