Chords + Lyrics | I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll
Intro
| 4/4 N.C | E5 (G) | A5 B5 (G) | E5 (G) |
| 3/4 A5 B5 A5 | 4/4 E5 | E5 (lick) |
Verse 1
| E5 | E5 (lick) |
I saw him dancin’ there by the record machine.
| E5 | B5 (lick) |
I knew he must’ve been about seventeen.
| A5 B5 | 2/4 E5 | 4/4 A5 (hold) |
The beat was goin’ strong, playin’ my favourite song.
Bridge 1
| A (hold) | N.C |
And I could tell it wouldn’t be long ’til he was with me, yeah, me.
| N.C | B5 |
And I could tell it wouldn’t be long ’til he was with me, yeah me, singin’:
Chorus 1
| E5 (G) | A5 B5 |
I love rock ‘n’ roll, so put another dime in the jukebox, baby.
| E5 (G) | 3/4 A5 B5 A5 | 4/4 E5 | E5 (lick) |
I love rock and roll, so come and take your time and dance with me. Ow!
Verse 2
He smiled so I got up and asked for his name.
But that don’t matter, he said, ’cause it’s all the same.
He said can I take you home, where we can be alone?
Bridge 2
And next we were movin’ on, he was with me, yeah, me.
Next we were movin’ on, he was with me, yeah, me, singin’:
Chorus 2
I love rock ‘n’ roll, so put another dime in the jukebox, baby.
I love rock ‘and’n’ roll, so come and take your time and dance with me. Ow!
Solo
| E5 | E7 | E5 | B5 |
| A5 B5 | 2/4 E5 | 4/4 A5 |
He said can I take you home, where we can be alone?
Bridge 3
| A (hold) | N.C |
Next we’re movin’ on, he was with me, yeah, me.
| N.C | N.C |
And we’ll be movin’ on and singin’ that same old song, yeah with me, singin’:
Chorus 3 (Breakdown)
||: N.C | N.C :||
I love rock and roll, so put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock and roll, So come and take your time and dance with me
Outro Chorus
||: 4/4 E5 (G) | A5 B5 (G) | E5 (G) | 3/4 A5 B5 A5 :|| E5 |
||: I love rock and roll, so put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock and roll, so come and take your time and dance with :|| x4
I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll Backing Track | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find a backing track for playing I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll. I’ve used AI to extract the chords while keeping the drums and bass intact.
After studying the chords and TAB, use the backing tracks to prepare for playing I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll‘ with a band.
Should you want to play along with the original recording instead, you need to tune your guitar sharp to 444Hz. In the backing track, I’ve done this job for you by detuning it 1%.
Chord Progressions – What’s Going On?
The chords are super simple, it’s just a I – IV – V in the key of E. All these chords are also power chords, meaning, there is no 3rd.
What is difficult is the change of time signature, making this a really tricky song to just throw in the set, everyone will have had to practise to the original, or even better, my backing tracks!
Intro
The intro will instantly reveal if anyone hasn’t done their homework as that single 3/4 bar will lead to a car crash if not.
| 4/4 N.C | E5 (G) | A5 B5 (G) | E5 (G) |
| 3/4 A5 B5 A5 | 4/4 E5 | E5 (lick) |
I’ve put a G in brackets as that’s the note we’re bending from, moving to the next chord. There’s a E minor pentatonic lick at the end which is the most difficult part of this tune.
On the original recording, there are two guitars, one plays the lick in the lowest octave, another in the highest.
For the sole guitarist, decisions have to be made here as if you go for the higher option, must modify the following chord, you simple can’t get from fret 12 to an open position power chord.
In the course, I give you three alternatives to solving this dilemma, check the TAB lesson here: I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Verse
The verse scraps the low G bend but keeps the lick, even for the B5 chord:
| E5 | E5 (lick) | E5 | B5 (lick) |
| A5 B5 | 2/4 E5 | 4/4 A5 (hold) |
Bridge
The bridge hold the A, then stops before we start pumping B5, aiming for a chorus release:
| A (hold) | N.C | N.C | B5 |
The third bridge doesn’t go to B5 as it’s heading for a breakdown chorus.
Chorus
The chorus is almost identical to the intro, only the bent G is missing to make way for the vocal line “jukebox, baby”:
| E5 (G) | A5 B5 |
| E5 (G) | 3/4 A5 B5 A5 | 4/4 E5 | E5 |
For the breakdown chorus, there is no 3/4 bar.
The outro chorus scrap the last two bars of E as we loop it:
||: 4/4 E5 (G) | A5 B5 | E5 (G) | 3/4 A5 B5 A5 :||
Here’s a chord chart you can hand to new musicians you haven’t checked if they know about the tricky time signatures, hopefully they can read this on the night and get it right!
I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
You can download my chord chart, share it with your bandmates, and point out that if you don’t get the time signatures right, the entire thing will collapse.
Here are the files as a PDF and for iReal Pro:
I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll TAB | Course Preview
In the course, we study custom made TAB that has been designed to work for the sole guitarist in a party band.
It really is more complex than it sounds, getting all the details right (when to play the G bend, licks and time signatures) has to be right.
As a preview, here’s the verse:
The Story of I Love Rock ’n’ Roll: Arrows, Joan Jett, and a Timeless Hit
I Love Rock ’n’ Roll began life in 1975 when it was written and recorded by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker for their band Arrows. Their original version, released in 1975, carried the raw swagger of mid-’70s glam rock, complete with gritty guitars and a chant-like chorus. While it gained modest attention in the UK, it never achieved major chart success, remaining more of a cult favourite than a mainstream hit at the time.
The song’s true breakthrough came when Joan Jett encountered it during a UK tour with The Runaways. Struck by its energy and simplicity, she later recorded it with The Blackhearts in 1981. Released in 1982, Jett’s version stripped things down further, leaning into a heavier, punchier guitar sound and anthemic delivery. It became a massive hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks. The single also performed strongly worldwide, cementing Jett’s status as a leading figure in rock and helping define the sound of early ’80s hard-edged pop-rock.
Over time, Jett’s rendition has become the definitive version, widely regarded as one of rock’s most recognisable anthems. Its influence stretches across generations, frequently appearing in films, adverts, and sporting events, while its instantly recognisable riff remains a staple of guitar culture. The track’s enduring appeal lies in its simplicity, attitude, and universal celebration of rock music itself.
In 2001, Britney Spears introduced the song to a new audience with her cover for the album Britney. Her version leaned into a more polished, pop-driven production while retaining the core structure of Jett’s arrangement. Released as a single in several territories, it achieved moderate chart success, including a Top 20 position in the UK Singles Chart. While not matching the cultural impact of Jett’s version, Spears’ take highlighted the song’s versatility and helped reintroduce it to a younger generation, reinforcing its lasting legacy as a cross-genre rock anthem.
I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
