How to Play Stayin’ Alive Chords by the Bee Gees on Guitar

SobiSeptember 13, 2023Last Updated: June 23, 2024

23 4 minutes read

Stayin’ Alive is one of the most iconic songs of the disco era, and a classic hit by the Bee Gees. The song was released in 1977 as part of the soundtrack for the movie Saturday Night Fever, and it became a worldwide phenomenon. The song features a catchy groove, a funky bass line, and a memorable guitar riff that is easy to learn and fun to play.

The Chords

[Intro]
| Em | % | A | % |
| Em | % |
 
[Verse 1]
              Em
Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
      D               Em
I'm a woman's man, no time to talk
Em
Music loud and women warm
          D                   Em
I've been kicked around since I was born
 
[Pre-Chorus]
             A
But now it's all right, that's okay
A
You may look the other way
A
We can try to understand
    A
The New York Times' effect on man
 
[Chorus]
Em
Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother
       Em
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Em
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'
      Em
I'm a-stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Em              Em
Ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Em              Em         [ D   Em ] Bm7
Ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin' ali-i-i-i --- ive
                (break)
            | Em | % |
Oh, when you walk
 
[Verse 2]
          Em
Well, now I get low and I get high
         D                   Em
And if I can't get either, I really try
        Em
Got the wings of heaven on my shoes
      D                  Em
I'm a dancin' man, and I just can't lose
 
[Pre-Chorus]
               A
You know, it's all right, it's okay
     A
I'll live to see another day
A
We can try to understand
    A
The New York Times' effect on man
 
[Chorus]
Em
Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother
       Em
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Em
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'
      Em
I'm a-stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Em              Em
Ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Em              Em         [ D   Em ] Bm7
Ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin' ali-i-i-i --- ive
                (break)
    | Em | % |
Oooooh
 
[Middle 8]
A
 Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me
                   | Em | % |
Somebody help me, yeah
A
 Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
| A |         | Em | % |
   I'm stayin' alive
 
[Verse 3]
          Em
Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
      D               Em
I'm a woman's man, no time to talk
Em
Music loud and women warm
          D                   Em
I've been kicked around since I was born
 
[Pre-Chorus]
             A
But now it's all right, that's okay
A
You may look the other way
A
We can try to understand
    A
The New York Times' effect on man
 
[Chorus]
Em
Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother
       Em
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Em
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'
      Em
I'm a-stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Em              Em
Ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Em              Em         [ D   Em ] Bm7
Ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin' ali-i-i-i --- ive
                (break)
      | Em | % |
Yeah
 
[Outro] = Middle 8
A
 Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me
                   | Em | % |
Somebody help me, yeah
A                                         Em
 Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
            | Em | % | % |
I'm stayin' ali-i-i-i-ive
 
(repeat and fade)

The Riff

The main guitar riff of the song is played over the Fm7 chord, and it consists of a series of hammer-ons and pull-offs on the fifth and fourth strings. The riff starts with a hammer-on from the first to the third fret on the fifth string, followed by a pull-off to the first fret. Then, it moves to the fourth string, where it plays a hammer-on from the first to the third fret, followed by another hammer-on from the third to the fifth fret. Then, it plays a pull-off from the fifth to the third fret, followed by another pull-off from the third to the first fret. Finally, it plays a hammer-on from the first to the third fret again, followed by an open string. The riff is repeated four times for each measure of Fm7.

The Strumming

The strumming pattern for the song is simple and consistent. It follows a down-up-down-up-down-up-down-up rhythm for each measure, with accents on beats one and three. The strumming should be done with a loose wrist and a light touch, to create a smooth and groovy sound. The strumming should also be muted slightly by resting the palm of the picking hand on the strings near the bridge, to create a percussive effect.

The Song Structure

The song structure for Stayin’ Alive is as follows:

Intro: Fm7 (4 measures)
Verse 1: Fm7 – Eb – Fm7 – Eb (4 times)
Pre-Chorus: Bb – Ab – Bb (3 times)
Chorus: Fm7 (8 times)
Verse 2: Same as Verse 1
Pre-Chorus: Same as before
Chorus: Same as before
Middle 8: Ab – Bb – Fm7 – Bb (2 times)
Verse 3: Same as Verse 1
Pre-Chorus: Same as before
Chorus: Same as before
Outro: Same as Middle 8

Conclusion

Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees is a great song to play on guitar, whether you are a beginner or an advanced player. It has a simple chord progression, an easy strumming pattern, and a catchy riff that will make you feel like a disco star. You can find more information about the song and its chords on these websites. Have fun playing Stayin’ Alive!