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Tom Petty - I Won’t Back Down Ukulele Chords

ChordsEm, D, G, C
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

  • Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
  • Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram
  • Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
  • Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram


[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


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


[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


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


[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


[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


[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

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ArtistTom Petty
AlbumFull Moon Fever
GenresPop, Rock
Year1989
KeyEm

How to play I Won't Back Down on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down on ukulele 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;

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

2. D → G chord transition

To move from D to G;

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

3. G → Em chord transition

To move from G to Em;

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

4. D → C chord transition

To move from D to C;

  1. While playing D, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
D to C

5. C → Em chord transition

To move from C to Em;

  1. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on C string fret 4.
  2. Place index finger on A string fret 2.
  3. Place middle finger on E string fret 3.

6. G → C chord transition

To move from G to C;

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

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 Ukulelearn.
  • I Won't Back Down contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how I Won't Back Down connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → D: 24%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → Em: 17%