Rock

Don’t Stop Believin’ Chords

Journey Intermediate Key of E 4 Chords 2 min read Updated Jul 2026

Etap to play

Btap to play

C#mtap to play

Atap to play

Key

E

Difficulty

Intermediate

Capo

None

Chords

E · B · C#m · A

Don’t Stop Believin’ Chords – Guitar

One of the greatest rock anthems ever. The iconic piano intro translates well to guitar with these four chords.

Arena Rock Drive (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The key of E works great on guitar. Play the intro riff as a picking pattern: E-B-C#m-A. For the C#m, barre at fret 4 or use the open position (x42000).

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E B

Just a small-town girl, livin’ in a lonely world

C#m A

She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

E B

Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit

C#m A

He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

Verse 2

E B

A singer in a smoky room, the smell of wine and cheap perfume

C#m A E

For a smile they can share the night, it goes on and on and on and on

Chorus

E B C#m A

Strangers waiting up and down the boulevard

E B A

Their shadows searching in the night

E B C#m A

Streetlights, people, living just to find emotion

E B A

Hiding somewhere in the night

Outro

E B

Don’t stop believin’

C#m A

Hold on to that feelin’

E B C#mA

Streetlights, people

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Don’t Stop Believin’"?

You need 4 intermediate-friendly chords: E, B, C#m and A.

Is "Don’t Stop Believin’" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Don’t Stop Believin’" in?

It is in the key of E.

Who wrote "Don’t Stop Believin’"?

It was written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon, and released in 1981.

Etap to play

Btap to play

C#mtap to play

Atap to play

Key

E

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

E · B · C#m · A

Don’t Stop Believin’ Chords – Ukulele

One of the greatest rock anthems ever. The iconic piano intro translates well to guitar with these four chords.

Arena Rock Drive (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The key of E works great on guitar. Play the intro riff as a picking pattern: E-B-C#m-A. For the C#m, barre at fret 4 or use the open position (x42000).

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E B

Just a small-town girl, livin’ in a lonely world

C#m A

She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

E B

Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit

C#m A

He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

Verse 2

E B

A singer in a smoky room, the smell of wine and cheap perfume

C#m A E

For a smile they can share the night, it goes on and on and on and on

Chorus

E B C#m A

Strangers waiting up and down the boulevard

E B A

Their shadows searching in the night

E B C#m A

Streetlights, people, living just to find emotion

E B A

Hiding somewhere in the night

Outro

E B

Don’t stop believin’

C#m A

Hold on to that feelin’

E B C#mA

Streetlights, people

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Don’t Stop Believin’"?

You need 4 intermediate-friendly chords: E, B, C#m and A.

Is "Don’t Stop Believin’" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Don’t Stop Believin’" in?

It is in the key of E.

Who wrote "Don’t Stop Believin’"?

It was written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon, and released in 1981.

Etap to play

Btap to play

C#mtap to play

Atap to play

Key

E

Difficulty

Intermediate

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

E · B · C#m · A

Don’t Stop Believin’ Chords – Piano

One of the greatest rock anthems ever. The iconic piano intro translates well to guitar with these four chords.

Arena Rock Drive (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The key of E works great on guitar. Play the intro riff as a picking pattern: E-B-C#m-A. For the C#m, barre at fret 4 or use the open position (x42000).

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E B

Just a small-town girl, livin’ in a lonely world

C#m A

She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

E B

Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit

C#m A

He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

Verse 2

E B

A singer in a smoky room, the smell of wine and cheap perfume

C#m A E

For a smile they can share the night, it goes on and on and on and on

Chorus

E B C#m A

Strangers waiting up and down the boulevard

E B A

Their shadows searching in the night

E B C#m A

Streetlights, people, living just to find emotion

E B A

Hiding somewhere in the night

Outro

E B

Don’t stop believin’

C#m A

Hold on to that feelin’

E B C#mA

Streetlights, people

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Don’t Stop Believin’"?

You need 4 intermediate-friendly chords: E, B, C#m and A.

Is "Don’t Stop Believin’" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Don’t Stop Believin’" in?

It is in the key of E.

Who wrote "Don’t Stop Believin’"?

It was written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon, and released in 1981.

Etap to play

Btap to play

C#mtap to play

Atap to play

Key

E

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

E · B · C#m · A

Don’t Stop Believin’ Chords – Banjo

One of the greatest rock anthems ever. The iconic piano intro translates well to guitar with these four chords.

Arena Rock Drive (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The key of E works great on guitar. Play the intro riff as a picking pattern: E-B-C#m-A. For the C#m, barre at fret 4 or use the open position (x42000).

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E B

Just a small-town girl, livin’ in a lonely world

C#m A

She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

E B

Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit

C#m A

He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

Verse 2

E B

A singer in a smoky room, the smell of wine and cheap perfume

C#m A E

For a smile they can share the night, it goes on and on and on and on

Chorus

E B C#m A

Strangers waiting up and down the boulevard

E B A

Their shadows searching in the night

E B C#m A

Streetlights, people, living just to find emotion

E B A

Hiding somewhere in the night

Outro

E B

Don’t stop believin’

C#m A

Hold on to that feelin’

E B C#mA

Streetlights, people

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Don’t Stop Believin’"?

You need 4 intermediate-friendly chords: E, B, C#m and A.

Is "Don’t Stop Believin’" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Don’t Stop Believin’" in?

It is in the key of E.

Who wrote "Don’t Stop Believin’"?

It was written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon, and released in 1981.

Etap to play

Btap to play

C#mtap to play

Atap to play

Key

E

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

E · B · C#m · A

Don’t Stop Believin’ Chords – Mandolin

One of the greatest rock anthems ever. The iconic piano intro translates well to guitar with these four chords.

Arena Rock Drive (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The key of E works great on guitar. Play the intro riff as a picking pattern: E-B-C#m-A. For the C#m, barre at fret 4 or use the open position (x42000).

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E B

Just a small-town girl, livin’ in a lonely world

C#m A

She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

E B

Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit

C#m A

He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

Verse 2

E B

A singer in a smoky room, the smell of wine and cheap perfume

C#m A E

For a smile they can share the night, it goes on and on and on and on

Chorus

E B C#m A

Strangers waiting up and down the boulevard

E B A

Their shadows searching in the night

E B C#m A

Streetlights, people, living just to find emotion

E B A

Hiding somewhere in the night

Outro

E B

Don’t stop believin’

C#m A

Hold on to that feelin’

E B C#mA

Streetlights, people

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Don’t Stop Believin’"?

You need 4 intermediate-friendly chords: E, B, C#m and A.

Is "Don’t Stop Believin’" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Don’t Stop Believin’" in?

It is in the key of E.

Who wrote "Don’t Stop Believin’"?

It was written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon, and released in 1981.

Etap to play

Btap to play

C#mtap to play

Atap to play

Key

E

Difficulty

Intermediate

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

E · B · C#m · A

Don’t Stop Believin’ Chords – Harmonica

One of the greatest rock anthems ever. The iconic piano intro translates well to guitar with these four chords.

Arena Rock Drive (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The key of E works great on guitar. Play the intro riff as a picking pattern: E-B-C#m-A. For the C#m, barre at fret 4 or use the open position (x42000).

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E B

Just a small-town girl, livin’ in a lonely world

C#m A

She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

E B

Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit

C#m A

He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

Verse 2

E B

A singer in a smoky room, the smell of wine and cheap perfume

C#m A E

For a smile they can share the night, it goes on and on and on and on

Chorus

E B C#m A

Strangers waiting up and down the boulevard

E B A

Their shadows searching in the night

E B C#m A

Streetlights, people, living just to find emotion

E B A

Hiding somewhere in the night

Outro

E B

Don’t stop believin’

C#m A

Hold on to that feelin’

E B C#mA

Streetlights, people

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Don’t Stop Believin’"?

You need 4 intermediate-friendly chords: E, B, C#m and A.

Is "Don’t Stop Believin’" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Don’t Stop Believin’" in?

It is in the key of E.

Who wrote "Don’t Stop Believin’"?

It was written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon, and released in 1981.