Chords + Lyrics | Don’t Stop Believin’
Intro
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | C#m (D# E) | A5 (D# E) |
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | G#m | A5 (D# E) |
Verse 1
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | C#m (D# E) | A5 (D# E) |
Just a small-town girl, livin’ in a lonely world.
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | G#m | A5 (D# E) |
She took the midnight train going anywhere.
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | C#m (D# E) | A5 (D# E) |
Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit.
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | G#m | A5 |
He took the midnight train going anywhere.
Instrumental 1 (with licks)
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | C#m (D# E) | A5 (D# E) |
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | G#m | A5 (D# E) |
Verse 2 (as 2nd half of verse 1)
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | C#m (D# E) | A5 (D# E) |
A singer in a smokey room, a smell of wine and cheap perfume.
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | G#m | A5 |
For a smile they can share the night, it goes on and on and on and on.
Bridge 1
||: B/A A | B/A A | Eadd9 E | Eadd9 E :||
Strangers waitin’, up and down the boulevard.
Their shadows, searchin’ in the night.
Streetlights, people, livin’ just to find emotion.
| B/A A | B/A A | B5 E5 | B5 E5 A5 |
Hidin’, somewhere in the night.
Instrumental 2
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | C#m (D# E) | A5 (D# E) |
Verse 3 (as verse 1)
Workin’ hard to get my fill, everybody wants a thrill.
Payin’ anything to roll the dice, just one more time.
Some’ll win, some will lose, some are born to sing the blues.
Whoa, the movie never ends, it goes on and on and on and on.
Bridge 2
Strangers waitin’, up and down the boulevard.
Their shadows, searchin’ in the night.
Streetlights, people, livin’ just to find emotion.
Hidin’, somewhere in the night.
Solo
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | C#m (D# E) | A5 (D# E) |
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | G#m | A5 |
Chorus
||: E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | C#m (D# E) | A5 (D# E) |
| E5 (F# G#) | B5 (C# D#) | G#m | A5 (D# E) :||
Don’t stop believin’, hold on to that feelin’.
Streetlights, people.
Don’t stop believin’, hold on.
Streetlights, people.
Don’t stop believin’, hold on to that feelin’,
Streetlights, people.
Don’t Stop Believin’ Chords: Unlock the Magic of Bass-Driven Progressions
The verse, instrumental, solo, and chorus sections of Don’t Stop Believin’ follow a straightforward chord progression: I – V – VI – IV (E – B – C#m – A).
To add variety, the VI chord is occasionally replaced with III, giving:
||: E | B | C#m | A |
| E | B | G#m | A :||
While these chords are diatonic to E major, the defining element is the bass line movement between them. Playing only the chords can sound static; it’s the bass that gives the progression its iconic drive. This pattern repeats throughout the song, except before the bridge, where the A chord is played without the bass movement.
In the course, I provide TAB for seven different ways to play these sections: Don’t Stop Believin’ – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Bridge
The bridge introduces a slightly unusual movement: B/A – A, followed by Eadd9 – E. It then transitions to:
| B5 – E5 | B5 – E5 – A5 |
Here’s the full bridge section:
||: B/A A | B/A A | Eadd9 E | Eadd9 E :||
| B/A A | B/A A | B5 E5 | B5 E5 A5 |
A clever feature of the song is that the chorus is sung over the verse chords, blending both sections seamlessly for the iconic climax.
Ultimately, Don’t Stop Believin’ is simple in chords but brilliant in how the bass line interweaves, creating the song’s unmistakable groove. Once you’ve mastered the TAB, the chord chart below will help you play along with the original recording—no keys player or second guitarist required.
Don’t Stop Believin’ Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
You can download my chord chart as a static PDF or in the iReal Pro format. Using iReal Pro, you can easily adjust the layout to suit your needs.
Don’t Stop Believin’ TAB | Course Preview
Mastering the different ways to play the verse, chorus, and instrumental sections is essential for capturing the feel of Don’t Stop Believin’.
In the course, you’ll find seven variations for the main progression, TAB for the bridge, and a complete note-for-note transcription of the iconic solo.
As a preview, here’s a combination of bass line and chords that works perfectly after the first bridge. I’ve merged the two original guitar parts here—make sure to include that expressive vibrato!
Journey’s signature song
This epic rock anthem catapulted Journey to superstardom when it was released in 1981.
Keyboardist Jonathan Cain had just joined the band for their seventh album, Escape, bringing with him the song’s iconic riff and title—words of encouragement from his father, who urged him never to give up on music.
Recognised as one of the greatest rock songs ever, Don’t Stop Believin’ ranked #133 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Notable covers include the Glee cast’s version, which reignited its popularity, sending it back into the charts at #2 in the U.K. and #4 in the U.S.
For rock cover bands, this song is almost guaranteed to appear on the setlist—alongside classics like Sweet Home Alabama, Sex On Fire, Summer Of ’69, Livin’ On A Prayer, and Sweet Child O’ Mine.
Don’t Stop Believin’ Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
