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Bill Withers - Ain’t No Sunshine Chords

ChordsAm, Em, G, Dm, A
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

AmAin’tnosunshinewhenshe’sgone.AmEmGAm
AmIt’snotwarmwhenshe’saway.AmEmGAm
Ain’tnosunshinewhenshe’sEmgone,andshe’salwaysgonetooDmlong,
AnytimeshegoesAmawayEmGAm
AmWonderthistimewhereshe’sgoneAmEmGAm
AmWonderifshe’sgonetostayAmEmGAm
Ain’tnosunshinewhenshe’sEmgone,andthishousejustain’tnoDmhome,
AnytimeshegoesAmawayEmGAm
AmAndIknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow
AmIknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow,Iknow
AmHey,Ioughttoleavetheyoungthingalone
Butain’tnosunshinewhenshe’sgoneAmEmGAm
AmButain’tnosunshinewhenshe’sgoneAmEmGAm
Amonlydarknesseveryday.AmEmGAm
Ain’tnosunshineEmwhenshe’sgone,andthishousejustain’tnoDmhome
AnytimeshegoesAmaway.AmEmGAm
AnytimeshegoesAmaway.AmEmGAm
AnytimeshegoesAmaway.AmEmGAm
AnytimeshegoesAmaway.AmEmGAm
AnytimeshegoesAmaway.AAmEmGAm
AlbumJust as I Am
GenresPop, R&B, Soul
Year1971
KeyAm
DifficultyEasy

How to play Ain’t No Sunshine on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Bill Withers - Ain’t No Sunshine on guitar requires 5 chords and 6 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Ain’t No Sunshine uses these transitions most often: Am → Em (17), Em → G (14), and G → Am (14). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Am - Em chord transition.

1. Am → Em chord transition

To move from Am to Em:

  1. While playing Am, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 17 times.

Am to Em

2. Em → G chord transition

Switching from Em to G:

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

Em to G

3. G → Am chord transition

To move from G to Am:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

G to Am

4. Em → Dm chord transition

To move from Em to Dm:

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on E string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

Em to Dm

5. Dm → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to Am:

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

6. Am → A chord transition

To move from Am to A:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Ain’t No Sunshine.

  • Ain’t No Sunshine includes 53 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Ain’t No Sunshine contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Ain’t No Sunshine connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → Em: 10%
    • Am → A: 0%
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (18%).
    • Em → G: 18%
    • Em → Dm: 2%