One Way or Another by Blondie
One Way or Another by Blondie runs at 163 BPM in 4/4 and is in the key of D major. It is built on 6 chords — B, D, F#, A, G, Bm. Released in 1979.
✓ Key sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected. See how we verify →
What to watch for
At least one shape here is a full barre — one finger pressing all six strings, no open strings to lean on. Fret it unplugged first; if a string buzzes, it's the barre, not the chord.
Practice at the right tempo
This song sits at 163 BPM. Start at 60% until the changes are clean — speed is a by-product of accuracy, not a goal.
Learn the theory
Play it on a live fretboard
Every shape, every voicing, and the scale that fits over them — on a board you can hear. Then just talk to it: Melody Monkey's personal music teacher controls the fretboard, so ask for a chord, a scale, a progression, or why any of it works, and watch it land under your fingers. Free to start.
Open the free app →Keep playing
More by Blondie See all →
More New Wave songs See all →
More songs from 1979 See all →
Frequently asked questions
What key is One Way or Another in?
One Way or Another is in D major, sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected.
What tempo is One Way or Another?
One Way or Another runs at 163 BPM (or 82 half-time).
What chords does One Way or Another use?
One Way or Another is built on 6 chords: B, D, F#, A, G, Bm.
Does One Way or Another need barre chords?
Yes — at least one shape is a full barre (one finger across all six strings). Everything else on the page is a standard open shape.
What tuning is One Way or Another in?
This recording sits about 23 cents flat of concert pitch (A=434.2Hz, not 440Hz). Tune to the track or you'll fight it the whole way.