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Johnny Preston - Running Bear Chords

ChordsA, D, B7, E7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

AHumbahumba,humbahumba,humbahumba,humba
OntheAbank,oftheriver,stoodRunningDBear,youngIndianAbrave
Ontheother,bankoftheriver,stoodhisB7lovely,IndianE7maid
LittleAWhiteDove,wasahername,suchaDlovely,sighttoAsee
Buttheirtribes,foughtwitheachother,sotheirE7lovecouldneverAbe.
RunningDBear,lovedLittleAWhiteDove,withaE7love,bigastheAsky
RunningDBear,lovedLittleAWhiteDove,withaE7lovethatcouldn’tAdie
Hecouldn’tAswim,theragingriver,causetheDriver,wastooAwide
Hecouldn’treach,LittleWhiteDove,waitingB7ontheotherE7side
IntheAmoonlight,hecouldseeher,throwingDkisses,crosstheAwaves
Herlittleheart,wasbeatingfaster,waitingE7thereforherbrave.
RunningDBear,lovedLittleAWhiteDove,withaE7love,bigastheAsky
RunningDBear,lovedLittleAWhiteDove,withaE7lovethatcouldn’tAdie
RunningABear,jumpedintheriver,LittleDWhiteDovedidtheAsame
Andtheyswam,toeachother,crosstheB7swirling,streamtheyE7came
Astheirhands,touchedandtheirlipsmet,theragingDriver,pulledthemA
Nowthey’llalways,betogether,inthatE7happyhuntingAground
RunningDBear,lovedLittleAWhiteDove,withaE7love,bigastheAsky
RunningDBear,lovedLittleAWhiteDove,withaE7lovethatcouldn’tAdie
RunningDBear,lovedLittleAWhiteDove,withaE7love,bigastheAsky
RunningDBear,lovedLittleAWhiteDove,withaE7lovethatcouldn’tAdie
AlbumSleeve of Running Bear
GenresPop
Year1960
KeyA
DifficultyEasy

How to play Running Bear on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Johnny Preston - Running Bear on guitar requires 4 chords and 5 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.

Running Bear uses these transitions most often: D → A (14), A → D (12), and E7 → A (12). 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 A - D chord transition.

1. A → D chord transition

Switching from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

A to D

2. A → B7 chord transition

Switching from A to B7:

  1. Slide your index finger on D string from fret 2 to 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 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  4. Place pinky on E string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

A to B7

3. B7 → E7 chord transition

Switching from B7 to E7:

  1. While playing B7, first lift your ring finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

B7 to E7

4. E7 → A chord transition

Switching from E7 to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

E7 to A

5. E7 → D chord transition

Switching from E7 to D:

  1. Slide your index finger on G string from fret 1 to fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Running Bear.

  • Running Bear includes 57 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Running Bear contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Running Bear connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → D: 29%
    • A → E7: 4%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → A: 17%