Bryan Adams Run To You Chords & Guitar Lesson Step-By-Step

A wise man once said: 

“All of the significant battles are waged within the self."

I don’t think there is anything more chaotic than a man torn apart inside by love. Here’s an epic song recorded by Bryan Adams about just that.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Run To You” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Run To You?

​“Run to You” was written by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. It was released on October 18, 1984, as the lead single from Adams' fourth studio album, Reckless. ​

Adams and Vallance wrote “Run to You” over three days in January 1983 in Vancouver, Canada. Initially, the song was penned for bands like Blue Öyster Cult and .38 Special, but both declined to record it. 

So, Bryan decided to record it, and the sessions were done at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, with Bob Clearmountain producing. ​

“Run to You” is basically a song about infidelity and internal conflict. The lyrics sing about a man torn between his faithful partner and a seductive mistress. It’s an epic look into the complexities of temptation and the struggle between desire and commitment. ​

The song has achieved significant commercial success. It shot up to #1 on Billboard's Top Rock Tracks chart, remaining there for 15 weeks​. The music video on YouTube is just shy of 100 million views.

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for Run To You?

The tuning for "Run To You", as recorded by Bryan Adams, is standard tuning. Standard tuning is spelled: E, A, D, G, B, and E. 

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)

All right! 

Now that you know the “Run To You” tuning, let’s next talk about…

Does Run To You use a capo?

Yes. To play “Run To You” on guitar, place a capo on the 2nd fret. This will make the main riff a lot easier as it uses open strings, which are capo’d.

This also means that the guitar part is going to be played in the key of Em, while the actual concert pitch is F#m. (More on this below.)

Run To You Chords

To play “Run To You”, you only need to know 6 main chords they are Em, G, A, C, D, and Bm7. Let’s take a look at a few ways these shapes can be played on the fretboard. 

Em is a great chord that uses all 6 strings like this:

G can be played in open position as well, like this:

A is played from the 5th string down with 1 finger like so:

C is played as a bar chord in 3rd position like this:

D can be played by moving C up two frets. Or it can be played in open position from the 4th string down like so:

Finally, Bm7 is played in the 7th position like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard for RHYTHM and LEAD guitar and want to discover the easiest and fastest way. Then get your hands on my free Fretboard Guide PDF right here now:  

Is Run To You hard to play on guitar?

I would say “Run To You” on guitar requires a solid intermediate to advanced skill level to play. There are many essential rock guitar techniques a student must be familiar with to make it happen. Plus, they must have solid picking skills to articulate the main riff fluidly. So, take your time with this one.

What key is Run To You in?

“Run To You,” as recorded by Bryan Adams, is in the key of F# minor concert pitch. However, on guitar with a capo on the 2nd fret, it’s played in E minor. So let’s roll with Em.  

Most of the chords fit into the diatonic scale. Here’s a quick look at how they all relate:

Em (E minor)

Function: Tonic (i)

Notes: E, G, B

The Em chord is the tonic chord in the key of E minor. It provides a sense of rest or resolution. It’s the "home" chord where the progression feels centered.

G (G major)

Function: Major III (III)

Notes: G, B, D

The G major chord is the major third chord in the key of E minor. It gives a brighter, more uplifting sound compared to the minor tonality of E. It’s often used to provide a contrast to the tonic chord.

A (A major)

Function: Major IV (IV)

Notes: A, C#, E

The A major chord is the IV chord in the key of E minor. It is a common chord in both minor and major keys and helps to move the progression away from the tonic and build tension before resolving back to the tonic or other chords.

C (C major)

Function: Major VI (VI)

Notes: C, E, G

The C major chord is the VI chord in the key of E minor. It creates a sense of lift and brightness and is frequently used in minor key progressions to provide a contrast to the darker, more somber minor tonality.

D (D major)

Function: Major VII (VII)

Notes: D, F#, A

The D major chord serves as the VII chord in the key of E minor. It’s used all the time in classic rock chord progressions.

Bm7 (B minor 7)

Function: Minor v7 (v7)

Notes: B, D, F#, A

The Bm7 chord functions as the v7 chord in the key of E minor. In natural minor, the v chord is often played as minor, but sometimes it’s raised to a major or dominant (V7) chord.

So that’s the theory. Next, let’s look at…

What is the strumming pattern for Run To You?

The main underlying groove for “Run To You” is a driving 8th-note rock feel. In 4/4 time, 8th notes divide each beat into two equal parts, creating a driving, steady rhythm like this:

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

The numbers (1, 2, 3, 4) represent the main beats in the measure, while the "&" represents the offbeats that add energy and momentum.

When counted out loud, it sounds like:

"One-and, Two-and, Three-and, Four-and."

Conclusion

To wrap it up, “Run To You” is an epic rock anthem that has many great rock guitar techniques to unpack.  

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

Jon MacLennan