I Won't Back Down

by Tom Petty
Loading song
Fetching song
1
—
How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

Start the lesson
Personalize the finger hints for your handsPick your hand size and we'll re-suggest this song's fingering to fit you.Personalize
More ways to play

Other arrangements of I Won't Back Down

Pick a learning view.

Lyrics

Well, I won’t back (G)down.

No, I won’t back (G)down.

You can (Em)stand me (D)up at the (C)gates gin’ of a hell, but I won’t back (G)down.

Gon na stand my (G)ground,

won’t be turned a (G)round.

And I’ll (Em)keep this (D)world from the (C)drag in’ me a round.

but I’ll stand my (G)ground.

Gon na

And I won’t back down.

(C)Hey

(D)ba by,

there ain’t no eas (G)y way (D)out.

(C)Hey,

(D)I

will (Em)stand (D)my (G)ground,

and I (Em)won’t (D)back (G)down.

Well, I

(C)Hey

(D)ba by,

there ain’t no eas (G)y way (D)out.

(C)Hey,

(D)I

will (Em)stand (D)my (G)ground,

and I (Em)won’t (D)back (G)down.

No I (Em)won’t (D)back (G)down.

I Won't Back Down — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

26 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of G, 115 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “I Won't Back Down”

What key is "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty played in?
I Won't Back Down is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "I Won't Back Down"?
The arrangement plays at 115 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "I Won't Back Down" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "I Won't Back Down"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "I Won't Back Down"?
"I Won't Back Down" was originally performed by Tom Petty. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "I Won't Back Down"?
This arrangement uses 4 chords: C, D, Em, G. Only a handful of chords — beginner-friendly.
What other songs by Tom Petty can I play here?
Try "YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT FEELS", "SOUTHERN ACCENTS", "THE WAITING". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "I Won't Back Down" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "I Won't Back Down" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in G, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "I Won't Back Down" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.