Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Refugee

How to play Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Refugee by TomPetty on guitar

This song is a great beginner pick because it has a steady, driving feel and a memorable loop that locks in fast. You get to focus on keeping the rhythm solid while the progression moves with a strong, upbeat push.

The chart uses both open shapes and barre shapes, so it gives you a good workout without being overwhelming. Dm, A, D, and E are the easier grips, while C#m, F#, F#m, and B need more hand strength. The main change to watch is the opening move from Dm to C#m, since it shifts you from an open shape into a barre shape.

Start by learning the opening progression slowly, one change at a time, until your fingers find the shapes cleanly. Then repeat the loop with a steady pulse, and only speed up when the switch from Dm to C#m feels reliable. After that, run the full sequence until it feels automatic.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.