Hurricane
Last updated: 2/8/2026
🎤 Bob Dylan🎼 Key: A MinorLevel: Intermediatechords
Learn to play Hurricane by Bob Dylan with these easy guitar chords and strumming patterns.
Guitar Chords
Key0
Size16
## Chords Used
Am--F--C--G--Dm--Em
Intro:Am ..F ..Am ..F
Am Pistol shots ring out in theF barroom night
Am Enter Patty Valentine from theF upper hall
SheAm sees the bartender in aF pool of blood
Am Cries out "My GodF they killed them all!"
C Here comes the story of theF Hurricane,
GC The man the authoritiesF came to blame
Dm For something that he neverC done
Dm Put in a prison cell butC oneEm time
He could haveAm been the
F champion of theC worldG
Am Three bodies lyin? thereF does Patty see
Am And another man named Bello,
F movin? around mysteriously
Am ?I didn?t do it,? he says,
F and he throws up his hands
Am ?I was only robbin? the
F register, I hope you understand
C I saw them leavin? heF says, and he stops
GC ?One of us had better callF up the cops
Dm And so Patty calls the copsC
Dm And they arrive on the
C sceneEm with their red lights flashin?
In the hotAm New JerseyF nightC ..G
Am Meanwhile, far away in
F another part of town
Am Rubin Carter and a couple of
F friends are drivin? around
Am Number one contender for the
F middleweight crown
Am Had no idea what kinda shit
F was about to go down
C When a cop pulled him over
F to the side of the road
GC Just like the time before
F and the time before that
Dm In Paterson that?s just the
C way things go
Dm If you?re black you might
C asEm well not show up on the street
?Less youAm wanna drawF the heatC ..G
Am Alfred Bello had a partner
F and he had a rap for the cops
Am Him and Arthur Dexter
F Bradley were just out prowlin? around
Am He said, ?I saw two men
F runnin? out, they looked like middleweights
Am They jumped into a white car
F with out-of-state plates?
C And Miss Patty Valentine
F just nodded her head
GC Cop said, ?Wait a minute,
F boys, this one?s not dead?
Dm So they took him to theC infirmary
Dm And though this man couldCEm hardly see
They told himAm that he
cF ould identify thC e guiltG y men
Am Four in the mornin? and theyF haul Rubin in
Am Take him to the hospital
andF they bring him upstairs
Am The wounded man looks up
F through his one dyin? eye
Am Says, ?Wha?d you bring him
F in here for? He ain?t the guy!?
C Yes, here?s the story ofF the Hurricane
GC The man the authoritiesF came to blame
Dm For somethin? that he neverC done
Dm Put in a prison cell,
butC oneEm time he could-a been
The championAm of theF worldC ..G
Am Four months later theF ghettos are in flame
Am Rubin?s in South America,
F fightin? for his name
Am While Arthur Dexter
F Bradley?s still in the robbery game
Am And the cops are puttin?
theF screws to him lookin for somebody to blame
C Remember that murder thatF happened in a bar?
GC ?Remember you said
you sawF the getaway car??
Dm ?You think you?d like to
C play ball with the law??
Dm Think it might-a been
C thatEm fighter that u saw runnin that night
Don?t forgetAm that youF are white?C ..G
## 🎸 Song Overview & Key
"Hurricane" by Bob Dylan is a powerful storytelling song with a somber, introspective mood. The key is **A minor**, centered around the chords [Am], [F], [C], [G], [Dm], and [Em]. The tempo is moderate, around **60–70 BPM**, giving it a reflective, narrative-driven feel. Dylan’s folk-rock style shines here, with a mix of sparse strumming and emotional emphasis on key lyrics. The song’s chord progressions often pivot between minor and major tones, creating tension that mirrors the story’s injustice and resilience.
## 📐 Chord Progression Analysis
The song revolves around the **[Am]–[F]** and **[C]–[G]** progressions, which are emotionally rich and musically compelling. In the verses, [Am]–[F] creates a melancholic contrast, with [Am] (i) and [F] (V in C major) acting as a pivot. In the chorus, the shift to **[C]–[F]–[G]–[C]** adds urgency, using the **ii–V–I** motion in C major for resolution. The **[Dm]–[C]–[Em]** sequence in the chorus introduces a bittersweet twist, with [Dm] (ii) and [Em] (iii) adding color to the otherwise major-key sections. These progressions work together by balancing minor and major harmonies, reflecting the song’s themes of struggle and hope.
## 🖐️ Fingering & Technique Tips
For **[Am]**, use your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the B string, 2nd on D, 3rd on G, and 4th on E. For **[F]**, a barre chord on the 1st fret is ideal, but if that’s tough, try a simplified version with just the root (F) and fifth (C) on the 6th and 5th strings. Transitioning between **[Am]** and **[F]** can be tricky—practice switching slowly, focusing on lifting fingers cleanly. For **[Dm]**, use a D-shaped barre on the 2nd fret, and for **[Em]**, keep your fingers close to the fretboard to avoid muting strings. If you’re struggling with barres, try using a capo temporarily (though the song is played without one) to ease tension.
## 🥁 Strumming Pattern & Rhythm
Use a **down-up-down-up** pattern with a soft, percussive touch, mimicking Dylan’s acoustic style. In verses, keep the strumming sparse and deliberate, emphasizing the off-beats for a storytelling feel. In choruses, add more momentum with fuller strums, especially on the **[C]–[G]** progression. The time signature is **4/4**, and dynamics should swell during emotional lines like *“He could-a been the champion of the world.”*
## 🎵 Song Structure Walkthrough
The song opens with a haunting **[Am]–[F]** intro, setting the tone. Verses follow with the same progression, while choruses shift to **[C]–[F]–[G]–[C]** for a dramatic lift. The bridge (truncated in the lyrics) likely mirrors the verse structure but adds a new layer of tension. Pay attention to chord changes between verses and choruses—slow down transitions like **[Am] to [C]** to maintain clarity.
## 💡 Pro Practice Tip
Focus on **dynamic strumming** to mirror the song’s emotional arc. Play the verses with a whisper-like touch, then build intensity in choruses. This contrast will bring the storytelling to life and help you connect with the song’s powerful message.