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Editorβs notes
In this lesson, Iβll teach you how to play an acoustic version of βRunninβ Down a Dreamβ by Tom Petty. Fantastic song, great riff, only a handful of chords. Iβll show it all: the riff w/ a tab for reference, the strumming, the chords, etc.
Video timestamps:
- 0:00 Playthrough
- 1:13 Lesson overview
- 2:03 PDF w/ chords
- 2:23 Intro riff, basics
- 5:33 Intro riff, advanced
- 6:54 How to play the verse
- 8:01 How to play the chorus
- 9:38 How to play the refrain
- 10:07 Farewell
Chords needed
E ββββ0ββββ2ββββ3ββββ0ββββ0ββββ
B ββββ0ββββ3ββββ0ββββ2ββββ1ββββ
G ββββ1ββββ2ββββ0ββββ2ββββ0ββββ
D ββββ2ββββ0ββββ0ββββ2ββββ2ββββ
A ββββ2βββββββββ2ββββ0ββββ3ββββ
E ββββ0βββββββββ3ββββββββββββββ
E D G A C
Main riff
The main riff uses the notes below. I use my middle finger for the 7-6-5-3 fretted notes on the low E string. The hard part will be transitioning into the E-major chord while maintaining your rhythm in a strum⦠and likewise transitioning from that same strummy E-major back into this riff.
E βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ0ββββ
B βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ0ββββ
G βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ1ββββ
D βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ2ββββ ...then, strum the E
A βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ2ββββ
E βββ0ββ7βββ0ββ6βββ0ββ5βββ0ββ3βββ0βββββ0ββββ
E
A simpler version, though technically not what you hear on the album, is to play it like this. This is much, much easier to play while staying in time with your strumming (leading into the E-major chord).
E ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ0ββββ
B ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ0ββββ
G ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ1ββββ
D ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ2ββββ ...then, strum the E
A ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ2ββββ
E βββ0ββ7βββ0ββ6βββ0ββ5βββ0βββββ0ββββ
E
Lyrics w/ chords
INTRO
E (with riff)
VERSE
E
It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down
D E
I had the radio on... I was driving
E
Trees flew by, me and Del were singing
D E
A little Runaway... I was flying
CHORUS
A G E E G A
Yeah, running down a dream... that never would come to me
D G E E G A
Working on a mystery......... going wherever it leads
A G E
Running down a dream
I felt so good like anything was possible
I hit cruise control and rubbed my eyes
The last three days the rain was unstoppable
It was always cold, no sunshine
[ chorus ]
REFRAIN
C D E
Woo-hooo.... woo-hooo.... woo-hooo....
C D E
Woo-hooo.... woo-hooo.... woo-hooo....
I rolled on as the sky grew dark
I put the pedal down to make some time
There's something good waiting down this road
I'm picking up whatever's mine
[ chorus ]
Good luck!
Let me know if you have questions. I hope this was helpful.
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