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Desperado

Chords

4.73,358 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Desperado chords *
G G7  C Cm  G Em  A7 D7
DespeGrado,  G7why don't you Ccome to your Cmsenses
You've been Gout ridin' Emfences,
for A7so long - D7now.
Oh you're a Ghard one.G7  
I know that Cyou've got your Cmreasons.
These Gthings that are Empleasin' you
Can A7hurt you D7someGhow.D  
Don't you Emdraw the queen of Bmdiamonds boy
She'll Cbeat you if she's Gable.
You know the Emqueen of hearts is Calways your best Gbet.D  
Now it Emseems to me, some Bmfine things
Have been Claid upon your Gtable.
But you Emonly want the A7ones
That you can't Amget.D  
DespeGrado,
 G7Ohhhh you ain't Cgetting no Cmyounger.
Your Gpain and your Emhunger,
They're A7driving you D7home.
And Gfreedom, oh G7freedom.
Well that's just Csome people Cmtalking.
Your Gprison is Emwalking through this A7world D7all aGlone.D  
Don't your Emfeet get cold in the Bmwinter time?
The Csky won't snow and the Gsun won't shine.
It's Emhard to tell the Cnight time from the Gday.D  
And you're Emlosing all your Bmhighs and lows
ain't it Cfunny how the Gfeeling goes
aAmway.D..D7  
DespeGrado,
 G7Why don't you Ccome to your Cmsenses?
come Gdown from your Emfences, A7open the D7gate.
It may be Grainin'G7, but there's a Crainbow aCmbove you.
You better Glet somebody Emlove you.
(Clet somebody Amlove you)
You better Glet someB7body Emlove you...ohhh..hooo
beAmfore it's D7too..oooo.. Glate.
G7  C Cm  G
Capo II
  G= F  
 G7= F7  
  C= Bb  
 Cm= Bbm  
 Em= Dm  
 A7= G7  
 D7= C7  
  D= C  
 Bm= Am  
 Am= Gm  
 B7= A7  
Capo V
  G= D  
 G7= D7  
  C= G  
 Cm= Gm  
 Em= Bm  
 A7= E7  
 D7= A7  
  D= A  
 Bm= F#m  
 Am= Em  
 B7= F#7  
Open (These chords are not in the original key)
  G= A  
 G7= A7  
  C= D  
 Cm= Dm  
 Em= F#m  
 A7= B7  
 D7= E7  
  D= E  
 Bm= C#m  
 Am= Bm  
 B7= C#7  
  G= C  
 G7= C7  
  C= F  
 Cm= Fm  
 Em= Am  
 A7= D7  
 D7= G7  
  D= G  
 Bm= Em  
 Am= Dm  
 B7= E7  

All chords in this song (24)

The story behind the song

"Desperado" is a ballad that began as a song written by Don Henley in 1968, originally about a friend. When Henley and Glenn Frey decided to write songs together after recording their debut album, Henley played Frey the unfinished piece, describing it as a "Southern Gothic thing" that could be made more Western. Frey then helped structure the song and fill in the blanks, marking the beginning of their songwriting partnership. The piano introduction draws inspiration from Ray Charles's version of "Georgia On My Mind." This song invites you to channel the introspection and raw emotion of a soul confronting their choices.

AI-written from these sources:Desperado (Eagles song) — Wikipedia ↗Eagles (band) — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Desperado

by Eagles

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Bbm

F#m

F#7

C#m

Desperado chords *

G G7 C Cm G Em A7 D7

G G7 C Cm

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses

G Em

You've been out ridin' fences,

A7 D7

for so long - now.

G G7

Oh you're a hard one.

C Cm

I know that you've got your reasons.

G Em

These things that are pleasin' you

A7 D7 G D

Can hurt you somehow.

Em Bm

Don't you draw the queen of diamonds boy

C G

She'll beat you if she's able.

Em C G D

You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet.

Em Bm

Now it seems to me, some fine things

C G

Have been laid upon your table.

Em A7

But you only want the ones

Am D

That you can't get.

Desperado,

G7 C Cm

Ohhhh you ain't getting no younger.

G Em

Your pain and your hunger,

A7 D7

They're driving you home.

G G7

And freedom, oh freedom.

C Cm

Well that's just some people talking.

G Em A7 D7 G D

Your prison is walking through this world all alone.

Em Bm

Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?

C G

The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine.

Em C G D

It's hard to tell the night time from the day.

Em Bm

And you're losing all your highs and lows

C G

ain't it funny how the feeling goes

Am D D7

away...

Desperado,

G7 C Cm

Why don't you come to your senses?

G Em A7 D7

come down from your fences, open the gate.

G G7 C Cm

It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you.

G Em

You better let somebody love you.

C Am

(let somebody love you)

G B7 Em

You better let somebody love you...ohhh..hooo

Am D7 G

before it's too..oooo.. late.

G7 C Cm G

Capo II

G F

G7 F7

C Bb

Cm Bbm

Em Dm

A7 G7

D7 C7

D C

Bm Am

Am Gm

B7 A7

Capo V

G D

G7 D7

C G

Cm Gm

Em Bm

A7 E7

D7 A7

D A

Bm F#m

Am Em

B7 F#7

Open (These chords are not in the original key)

G A

G7 A7

C D

Cm Dm

Em F#m

A7 B7

D7 E7

D E

Bm C#m

Am Bm

B7 C#7

G C

G7 C7

C F

Cm Fm

Em Am

A7 D7

D7 G7

D G

Bm Em

Am Dm

B7 E7

About Desperado Chords by Eagles

Learn how to play Desperado by Eagles with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Desperado chords”, “Desperado guitar chords”, or “Eagles Desperado chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Desperado chords and for experienced players who want accurate Desperado lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, G7, C, Cm, Em, A7.

FAQ — Desperado by Eagles

How do I play "Desperado" by Eagles on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Desperado" by Eagles on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Desperado" by Eagles free?

Yes. The chords for "Desperado" by Eagles are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Desperado" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Desperado" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Desperado"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Desperado" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Desperado" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Desperado" by Eagles with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Eagles below.

What key is "Desperado" in?

The chords for "Desperado" show the original chord names (including G, G7, C, Cm, Em, A7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.