“Dancing in the Dark,” a quintessential hit by Bruce Springsteen, resonates with its raw energy and relatable lyrics. For guitar enthusiasts, mastering this song is a rite of passage. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, learning to play “Dancing in the Dark” on guitar is incredibly rewarding. This guide provides you with comprehensive tabs and resources to get you strumming this iconic track.
Guitar Tabs and Chords for “Dancing in the Dark”
The song is commonly played with a capo on the 4th fret, which simplifies the chords and makes it accessible for many guitarists. The time signature is 4/4, a standard in popular music, making the rhythm feel natural. Below are the chord progressions and tabs to follow along.
Intro: (2 times)
------ G G6 G G6
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------------|---0-----------0-|-----------------|---0-------------|
G|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0---|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0-0-|
D|---0-------0-----|-----2-----2-----|---0 ويا-------0-----|-----2-----2-----|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|
Verse:
----- G G6 G G6
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------------|---0-----------0-|-----------------|---0-------------|
G|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0---|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0-0-|
D|---0-------0-----|-----2-----2-----|---0-------0-----|-----2-----2-----|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|
I get up in the evening
And I ain't got nothing to say
G* G6 G G6
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-----------------|-----------------|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
B|-----------------|---0-----------0-|-----3-3-3---3---|-----------3-----|
G|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0---|---0-------0-----|-----0-----------|
D|---0-------0-----|-----2-----2-----|-----------------|---2---------2---|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|
I come home in the morning
I go to bed feeling the same way
C Am C Am
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-----0-0-0-------|---0-------------|-----0-0-------0-|-----------------|
B|-----1-1---3-1-3-|---------------1-|-----1-1-------1-|---1---3-----1-0-|
G|---0-------------|-------2---2-----|---0---------0---|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-----2-------2---|-----------2-----|-----2-----2-----|
A|-3-------3-------|-0-------0-------|-3-------3-------|-0-------0-------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
I ain't nothing but tired
Man Im just tired & bored with myself
G G6 G* G6
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------------|---0-----------0-|-----------------|---0-0---------3-|
G|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0---|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0---|
D|---0-------0-----|-----2-----2-----|---0-------0-----|-----------2-----|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|
Hey there, baby
I could use just a little help
Chorus:
------ D D
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-------------|-----------------|-----------|---------------|
B|---3-3---3---|-----------3-----|-----------|---------------|
G|---2-2-2---4-|---2---2-------2-|---2-2-2-4-|---4-2-----0---|
D|-0---0-------|-0-------0-------|-0---0-----|-0-------0---2-|
A|-------------|-----0-------0---|---0---0---|-------0-------|
E|-------------|-----------------|-----------|---------------|
You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
C Am C Am
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-------------|---0-------------|-----------------|---0-------------|
G|---0-0---0-2-|-------2-----2---|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0-0-|
D|---2---2-----|-----2-----2---2-|---2-------2-----|-----2-----2-----|
A|-3---3-------|-0-------0-------|-3-------3-------|-0-------0-------|
E|-------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the
G G6 G G6
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------------|---0-----------0-|-----------------|---0-------------|
G|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0---|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0-0-|
D|---0-------0-----|-----2-----2-----|---0-------0-----|-----2-----2-----|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|
dark
Bridge: (middle 8)
------ Em G C D
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-----0-0-0-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------3-0-3-|---0-------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G|---0-------------|-------0-----0---|-----0-0-----0-2-|---2---4---2-0-0-|
D|-----------------|-----0-----0---0-|---2-------0-----|-0-------0-------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|
E|-0-------0-------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|
You sit around getting older
There's a joke here somewhere and it's on me
Em G C D
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-----0-0-0-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------3-0-3-|---0-----------1-|---1-1-1-----0-0-|-----------------|
G|---0-------------|-------0-----0---|---0-0-0---------|---2---2---0---0-|
D|-----------------|-----0-----0-----|-----------2-----|-0-------0-------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|
E|-0-------0-------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|
I'll shake this world off my shoulders
Come on, baby, the laugh's on me
Outro:
----- G G6 G G6
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------------|---0-----------0-|-----------------|---0-------------|
G|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0---|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0-0-|
D|---0-------0-----|-----2-----2-----|---0-------0-----|-----2-----2-----|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
G G6 G G6
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------------|---0-----------0-|-----------------|---0-------------|
G|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0---|-----0-0-0---0-2-|-------2-----0-0-|
D|---0-------0-----|-----2-----2-----|---0-------0-----|-----2-----2-----|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
G
|
e|---------|
B|---------|
G|---------|
D|---------|
A|---------|
E|-3-------|These tabs provide a foundational understanding of the song’s structure on guitar. The G, G6, C, Am, and D chords form the backbone of “Dancing in the Dark,” creating its signature sound.
Video Tutorial and Bruce Springsteen’s Official Video
To further enhance your learning experience, visual aids are invaluable.
Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark (Official Music Video)
Watching Bruce Springsteen perform “Dancing in the Dark” not only inspires but also provides insight into the song’s feel and rhythm. Pay attention to his strumming patterns and the overall energy of the performance.
Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen – Guitar Lesson – Acoustic – Chords & Strumming by lonelypicker
For a step-by-step guide, consider exploring guitar tutorials. Lonelypicker’s tutorial offers a detailed acoustic lesson, breaking down the chords and strumming patterns, making it easier for learners to follow along and master the song.
Tips for Playing “Dancing in the Dark” on Guitar
- Capo is your friend: Using a capo on the 4th fret simplifies the chord shapes significantly. If you’re a beginner, definitely use a capo to make learning easier.
- Strumming Pattern: The song utilizes a fairly straightforward strumming pattern, but pay attention to the dynamics. Springsteen’s music often involves a mix of strong and softer strums to create emotion.
- Practice the Intro: The intro riff is iconic and recognizable. Nail this down first, as it sets the tone for the entire song.
- Listen to the Original: Constantly listen to Bruce Springsteen’s original recording to internalize the timing, feel, and nuances of the song. This will help you capture the authentic spirit of “Dancing in the Dark.”
Conclusion
Learning “Dancing in the Dark” on guitar is a rewarding journey for any guitarist. With these tabs, video resources, and tips, you’re well-equipped to start playing this classic hit. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be confidently strumming along to “Dancing in the Dark.” Explore more tabs and guitar lessons on ten-dance.com to further your musical journey!
