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Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead or Alive Chords

ChordsD, C, G, F
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to E,A keys to play this song with easier chords.

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


[D]It’s [D]all the same, [C]only the names will [G]change
[C]Every day [G]it seems we’re [F]wasting [C]a[D]way
Another place, where the [C]faces are so [G]cold
I’d [C]drive all [G]night just to [F]get [C]back [D]home


I’m a [C]cowboy [G]on a [F]steel horse I [D]ride
I’m [C]wanted, [G]wanted, [F]dead or a[D]live
I’m [C]wanted, [G]wanted, [F]dead or a[D]live


Some[D]times I sleep
Some[C]times it’s not for [G]days
The [C]people I meet[G]
Always [F]go their [C]separate [D]ways


Sometimes you tell the day
By the [C]bottle that you [G]drink
Some[C]times when you’re alo[G]ne
[F]All you [C]do is [D]think


I’m a [C]cowboy [G]on a [F]steel horse I [D]ride
I’m [C]wanted, [G]wanted, [F]dead or a[D]live
I’m [C]wanted, [G]wanted, [F]dead or a[D]live


I [D]walk these streets
A loaded [C]four-string on my [G]back
I [C]play for keeps [G]
Cus I [F]might not [C]make it [D]back


I been everywhere
Still I’m [C]standing tall [G]
I[C]seen a million [G]faces
And I’ve [F]rocked [C]them all [D]


I’m a [C]cowboy [G]on a [F]steel horse I [D]ride
I’m [C]wanted, [G]wanted, [F]dead or a[D]live


And I’m a [C]cowboy [G], I’ve got the [F]night on my [D]side
I’m [C]wanted, [G]wanted,
[F]Dead or a[D]live
[C]Dead of a[G]live
[F]Dead or a[D]live

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ArtistBon Jovi
AlbumSlippery When Wet
GenresRock
Year1986
KeyD

How to play Wanted Dead or Alive on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead or Alive 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.

Wanted Dead or Alive uses these transitions most often: C → G (23), D → C (17), and G → F (17). 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 D - C chord transition.

1. D → C chord transition

To move from D to C;

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

2. C → G chord transition

To move from C to G;

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

3. G → F chord transition

To move from G to F;

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

4. 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.
F to C

5. F → D chord transition

To move from F to D;

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

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Wanted Dead or Alive.

  • Wanted Dead or Alive includes 86 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Wanted Dead or Alive contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Wanted Dead or Alive connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → F: 9%