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Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark Ukulele Chords

ChordsG, Em, C, Am, D
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

GEmGEm
GIgetupintheEmevening,
AndIGain’tgotEmnothingtoGsay
IcomehomeintheEmmorning,
GIgotobedEmfeelingthesameCway
Iain’tnothingbutAmtired,
CManI’mjustAmtiredandboredwithmyGself
HeythereEmbaby,GIcouldEmusejustalittleDhelp
DYoucan’tstartafire,
Youcan’tstartafirewithoutaCspark
Thisgun’sforAmhire,
CEvenifwe’rejustAmdancingintheGdarkEm
GEm
GMessageskeepgettingEmclearer,Gradio’son
AndI’mEmmovingaroundtheGplace
IcheckmylookintheEmmirror,
GWannachangemyEmclothesmyhairmyCface
ManIain’tgettingAmnowhere,
CI’mjustAmlivinginadumplikeGthis
There’ssomethinghappeningEmsomewhere,
GBabyEmIjustknowthatthereDis
DYoucan’tstartafire,
Youcan’tstartafirewithoutaCspark
Thisgun’sforAmhire,
CEvenifwe’rejustAmdancingintheGdarkEm
GEm
EmYousitaroundgettingGolder
CThere’sajokehereDsomewhereandit’sonEmme
I’llshaketheworldoffmyGshoulders
CComeonbabytheDlaughsonme
GStayonthestreetsofEmthistown,
GAndthey’llbeEmcarvingyouupalGright
TheysayyougottastayEmhungry,
GHeybaby,I’mEmjustaboutstarvingtoCnight
I’mdyingforAmaction,
CSickofsittingroundAmheretryingtowritethisGbook
IneedalovereEmaction,
GComeonEmbabygivemejustoneDlook
DYoucan’tstartafire,
SittingroundcryingonabrokenCheart
Thisgun’sforAmhire,
CEvenifwe’rejustAmdancingintheGdark
DYoucan’tstartafire,
WorryingaboutyourlittleworldfallingaCpart
Thisgun’sforAmhire,
CEvenifwe’rejustAmdancingintheGdarkEm
GEvenifwe’rejustEmdancingintheGdarkEm
AlbumBorn in the U.S.A.
GenresRock
Year1984
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play Dancing in the Dark on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark on ukulele requires 5 chords and 8 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.

Dancing in the Dark uses these transitions most often: G → Em (27), Em → G (21), and C → Am (14). 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 G - Em chord transition.

1. G → Em chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the section, played 27 times.

G to Em

2. Em → C chord transition

Switching from Em to C:

  1. While playing Em, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

Em to C

3. C → Am chord transition

To move from C to Am:

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Place middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 14 times.

C to Am

4. Am → G chord transition

Switching from Am to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

Am to G

5. Em → D chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

6. 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.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

7. 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.

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

8. D → G chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the section.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Dancing in the Dark.

  • Dancing in the Dark includes 93 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Dancing in the Dark contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Dancing in the Dark 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 Em, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (27%), G (18%), and D (18%).
    • Em → C: 27%
    • Em → G: 18%