Tom Petty - I Won’t Back Down Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
[Opening]
[Em] [D] [G] [Em] [D] [G]
Well, I [Em]won’t [D]back [G]down, no, I [Em]won’t [D]back [G]down,
You can [Em]stand me [D]up at the [C]gates of hell, but I [Em]won’t [D]back [G]down
[verse 2]
No, I [Em]stand [D]my [G]ground, won’t be [Em]turned [D] [G]around
And I [Em]keep this [D]world from [C]dragging me down
Gonna [Em]stand [D]my [G]ground, and I [Em]won’t [D]back [G]down
[chorus]
[C] [G] [C]Hey, [G] [D]baby, [G] [C]there ain’t no [G]easy way [D]out
[D] [G] [C]Hey, [G] [D]I, will [Em]stand [D]my [G]ground,
And I [Em]won’t [D]back [G]down
[verse 3]
Well, I [Em]know [D]what’s [G]right, and I got [Em]just [D]one [G]life
In a [Em]world that [D]keeps on [C]pushing me around
But I [Em]stand [D]my [G]ground, and I [Em]won’t [D]back [G]down
[chorus]
[C] [G] [C]Hey, [G] [D]baby, [G] [C]there ain’t no [G]easy way [D]out
[D] [G] [C]Hey, [G] [D]I, will [Em]stand [D]my [G]ground,
And I [Em]won’t [D]back [G]down
[Closing]
[Em] [D] [G] [Em] [D] [G] [Em] [D] [C] [Em] [D] [G] [Em] [D] [G]
[C] [G] [C]Hey, [G] [D]baby, [G] [C]there ain’t no [G]easy way [D]out
[D] [G] [C]Hey, [G] [D] I, [Em]won’t [D]back [G]down
[chorus]
[C] [G] [C]Hey, [G] [D]baby, [G] [C]there ain’t no [G]easy way [D]out
[D] [G] [C]Hey, [G] [D]I, will [Em]stand [D]my [G]ground,
And I [Em]won’t [D]back [G]down, no, I [Em]won’t [D]back [G]down
How to play I Won't Back Down on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down on guitar requires 4 chords and 6 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 Won't Back Down uses these transitions most often: D → G (33), Em → D (29), and G → Em (20). 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 Em - D chord transition.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. C → Em chord transition
To move from C to Em;
- While playing C, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
6. 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.
I Won't Back Down chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in I Won't Back Down.
- I Won't Back Down includes 138 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- I Won't Back Down contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how I Won't Back Down 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 D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).- D → G: 29%
- D → Em: 17%