Duran Duran - Rio: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Rio" 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.

Em              C                       Am7         C
Moving on the floor now, babe you're a bird of paradise
Em                 C          A              C
Cherry ice cream smile, I suppose it's very nice
        Em                      C
With a step to your left and a flick to the right
     Am7                       C
you catch that mirror way out west
Em               C
You know you're something special
         A                    C
and you look like you're the best

Chorus:
E            B           D             A
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
E               B               D               A
Just like that river twisting though the dusty land
E              B                 D                A
And when she shines she really shows you all she can
E        B            D             A
Oh Rio, Rio, dance across the Rio Grande

I've seen you on the beach and I've seen you on TV
Two of a billion stars it means so much to me
Like a birthday or a pretty view
But then I'm sure that you know it's just for you

Chorus

Em           C                     Am7
Hey now woo look at that, did she nearly
         C
run you down
       Em                    C
At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive,
 A                 C             Em
you make me feel alive, alive, alive
C              Am7         C
I'll take my chance cause luck is
       Em
on my side or something
    C
I know what you're thinking
   A                      C                   Em
I tell you something, I know what you're thinking

Chorus:
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
Just like that river twists across a dusty land
And when she shines she really shows you all she can
Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand
And I might find her if I'm looking like I can
Oh Rio, Rio hear them shout across the land
From mountains in the North down to the Rio Grande


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

Am

Guitar chord Am

Am7

Guitar chord Am7

C

Guitar chord C

D

Guitar chord D

E

Guitar chord E

Em

Guitar chord Em

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 "Rio" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Rio" by Duran Duran.

Duran Duran Song List