Runnin’ Down A Dream Chords And Guitar Lesson Step By Step (Tom Petty)

Are you a fan of rock guitar?

Well if so, I want to let you in on a little secret. You see, there are countless rock hit songs that use this trick in their guitar parts. And it’s quite fun.

Maybe even a little addicting, so watch out.

What’s the secret?

Well, go through this “Runnin' Down A Dream” chords and guitar lesson and you’ll find out!

Who Wrote Runnin' Down A Dream?

"Runnin' Down a Dream" was written by Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, and Jeff Lynne. It’s an energetic classic rock song that was released in 1989 as part of Petty's debut solo album, Full Moon Fever.  

Although it was a solo album, it still featured many of Petty's longtime collaborators, including members of the Heartbreakers. During this time, Petty was experiencing a burst of creative freedom. He was working a lot with Jeff Lynne, who was not only the co-writer on this anthem, but a producer of the album as well. Lynne's influence along with Mike Campbell’s iconic guitar riffs really helped shape the sound of the album. 

The song was recorded at Mike Campbell's home studio, known as "M.C. Studio" as well as Rumbo Recorders. Rumbo Recorders was a studio located in the West San Fernando Valley – only about 20 mins from where I am typing this blog post.  

Many notable artists recorded at Rumbo, including Guns N' Roses, Megadeth, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Roy Orbison, Kiss, Stone Temple Pilots, REO Speedwagon, The Smashing Pumpkins, Blinker the Star, Mötley Crüe, John Mellencamp, No Doubt, Keb' Mo', Pink, Spinal Tap, Survivor, Maroon 5, and Ringo Starr.

The studio offered a creative space away from the drama of Hollywood.

Another interesting note about “Runnin' Down A Dream” is the lyrics reference singer-songwriter Del Shannon. Del had a hit song called "Runaway" which was one of Petty's influences. The line "me and Del were singin' little 'Runaway'" serves as a nod to Shannon and highlights Petty's admiration for the earlier generation of rock 'n' roll.

"Runnin' Down a Dream" became one of Tom Petty's signature songs and a staple of his live performances. It reached No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was a major rock radio hit. The song's music video, featuring animation, was a popular fixture on MTV and contributed to its widespread appeal. The album Full Moon Fever itself went on to be certified multi-platinum, solidifying Petty's status as a rock icon.

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for Runnin' Down A Dream?

The tuning for "Runnin' Down A Dream”, as recorded by Tom Petty, is standard tuning. Tom and Mike Campbell kept things simple. 

Standard tuning for a guitar is spelled out as EADGBE. 

Here are the strings:

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch)

Let’s next take a look at the…

Runnin' Down A Dream Chords

To play “Runnin' Down A Dream” on guitar you only need to know 5 chords E, D, G, A and C. These chords can all be played in open position. Let’s take a look at a few options below.

E is played using all 6 strings in open position like this: 

D is played from the 4th string down like this:

G is played using all 6 strings like this:

A is played from the 5th string down like this:

Finally, C comes in during the final part of the tune and is played from the 5th string down like this:

If you struggled to understand chords on the neck and navigate the fretboard for rhythm and lead then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here:

All right, now that you know the “Runnin' Down A Dream” chords, let’s now talk about…

What key is Runnin' Down A Dream in?

“Runnin' Down A Dream” as recorded by Tom Petty is in the key of E major. However, it approaches the chord progression in a much more bluesier or rock approach. This means there are some borrowed chords (chords not commonly in the key of E major). For example, D, G, and C are all chords that do not fit diatonically (naturally occurring) in the E major scale. However, they can still be used in a progression to create interesting sounds.  

Here's how these chords relate to E major:

E Major (I chord): In the key of E major, the E chord is the tonic or the "home" chord. It serves as the resolution point and provides a sense of stability. 

D Major: The D major chord is not diatonic to E major, as its notes (D, F#, A) don't fit naturally within the E major scale. In E major, D is a lowered seventh degree (bVII chord), commonly used in rock and blues to add a mixolydian flavor or what I call a sub-tonic. This creates a sense of movement in the chords.

G Major: The G major chord is also not diatonic to E major. In E major, G is a lowered third degree (bIII chord). This chord can be used to add a bluesy or modal interchange effect, often shifting the tonal center momentarily. 

A Major (IV chord): The A major chord is diatonic in the key of E major, functioning as the subdominant or the IV chord. This adds a sense of movement away from the tonic, leading to either the dominant chord (B) or back to E. It's a common chord used to create progressions in the key.

C Major: The C major chord is not diatonic in E major, as its notes (C, E, G) don't belong to the E major scale. It functions as a lowered sixth degree (bVI chord). This chord comes in during the final section where the band plays C to D to E. It’s an iconic classic rock progression that has a driving sound. You hear this at the end of “Runnin’ Down A Dream” as the song fades off into the distance.

That’s the theory, but one of my favorite parts is the…

Runnin' Down A Dream Riff

All right… 

So here’s the secret I mentioned above. 

The trick is to come up with awesome guitar riffs, and play them all on ONE STRING.

That’s what Mike Campbell did on this epic rock riff. You see, if Tom Petty was Batman, Mike Campbell was Robin. Mike came up with some really great riffs! And one of the unique things about this riff is, it’s all played on ONE STRING.

It’s based on the E minor pentatonic scale. This scale is a five-note scale commonly used in rock, blues, and many other styles of music. It’s built from the following notes: 

• E (root)
• G (minor third)
• A (perfect fourth)
• B (perfect fifth)
• D (minor seventh) 

These notes repeat across the guitar neck in different positions. Here’s a great way of playing it in 12th position:

But remember knowing all this doesn’t mean a thing without a good… 

Runnin' Down A Dream Strumming Pattern And Groove

The main underlying groove for “I Won’t Back Down” is a steady 8th-note rock feel. The guitar parts use a combination or riffs, big open chords that ring out for 8 beats at a time, and driving 8th-note rhythms.  

Conclusion

To wrap it up, “Runnin' Down A Dream” is an epic high energy rock song, and one of the coolest parts is the riff which is all played on ONE STRING. It’s a shining example of Tom Petty’s genius and the musical legacy he left us.

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide right here now:  

Jon MacLennan