Aerosmith - Lightning Strikes: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Lightning Strikes" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

     E
The boys and Dukes are ready to rumble
The word on the street some heads are gonna tumble
  A
Blades gonna flash when the street gangs clash
        G         A
In this avenue tonight

Chorus:
          E               A
When the lightning strikes

Zip gun Johnny's finger is itching
Oh the lid's gonna blow up in hell's kitchen
It's an eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
They're so ruthless when they fight

Chorus:
          E
When the lightning strikes, ooh

             A
And it's a free for all in the parking lot
          E
Tell me who will rule the street
         A
And the night explodes
                              E
When the cops bring down the heat

          A
And the chains they crash like thunder
           E
While the weak ones all retreat
        A
Gotta draw first blood
                              B
Or they'll read your funeral rights

Chorus:
          E
When the lightning strikes

Um, it's dog eat dog when you're meeting your rival
In the combat zone it's a means of survival
Gonna get last licks on a suicide blitz
On a cloak and dagger night

Chorus:
          E
When the lightning strikes

Ooh, it's a free for all in the parking lot
Over who'll rule the street
And the night explodes
When the cops bring down the heat

And the chains they crash like thunder
While the weak ones all retreat
Gotta draw first blood
Or they'll read your funeral rights

          E               A
When the lightning strikes
          E               A
When the lightning strikes
          E
When the lightning strikes
 A
Can't you hear the thunder

          E
When the Lightning Strikes
 A
Can't you hear the thunder
          E
When the lightning strikes
 A
Can't you, can't you,
can't you hear the thunder
          E
When the lightning strikes
 A
Can't you, can't you,
can't you hear the thunder

When the lightning strikes
Can't you, can't you,
can't you hear the thunder
When the lightning strikes
Can't you, can't you,
can't you hear the thunder
When the lightning strikes


You can simplify chords by removing barre

Transpose

Reset

Font Size

Reset

Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

E

Guitar chord E

G

Guitar chord G

B

Guitar chord B

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "Lightning Strikes" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Lightning Strikes" by Aerosmith.

Aerosmith Song List