Maroon 5 - If I Ain’t Got You Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Bm chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram
[Opening]
[G] [F#m] [Em] [D] [G] [F#m] [Em] [D]
[D]Some people live for the [Bm]fortune
[Em]Some people live just for the [G] [A]fame
[D]Some people live for the [Bm]power, yeah
[Em]Some people live just to play the [G] [A]game
[verse 2]
[D]Some people [Em]think that the [F#m]physical [Em]things
[D]Define [Em]what’s [F#m]within [Em]
I’ve [D]been there [Em]before, but [F#m]that life’s a [Em]bore
So [D]full of the [Em] [F#m]superficial [D]
[chorus]
Some people [G]want it all, but I don’t want [F#m]nothing at all
If it ain’t [Em]you baby, if I ain’t [D]got you baby
Some people want [G]diamond rings, some just want [F#m]everything
But everything means [Em]nothing, if I ain’t got [D]you
[verse 3]
[D]Some people search for a [Bm]fountain
[Em]Promises forever [G]young [A]
[D]Some people need three dozen [Bm]roses
[Em]And that’s the only way to prove you [G]love them [A]
[Closing]
[D]Hand me the [Em]world on a [F#m]silver [Em]plater
And [D]what a [Em]good would it [F#m]be [Em]
[D]No one to [Em]share, [F#m]no one who [Em]truly
[D]Cares [Em]for [F#m]me [D]
[chorus]
Some people [G]want it all, but I don’t want [F#m]nothing at all
If it ain’t [Em]you baby, if I ain’t [D]got you baby
Some people want [G]diamond rings, some just want [F#m]everything
But everything means [Em]nothing, if I ain’t got [D]you
How to play If I Ain't Got You on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Maroon 5 - If I Ain't Got You on guitar requires 6 chords and 10 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.
If I Ain't Got You uses these transitions most often: Em → D (12), F#m → Em (12), and D → Em (8). 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 G - F#m chord transition.
1. G → F#m chord transition
To move from G to F#m;
- While playing G, lift your middle finger from E string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to A string fret 4.
- Place pinky on D string fret 4.
2. F#m → Em chord transition
To move from F#m to Em;
- While playing F#m, first lift your index finger and pinky.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 4 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
3. Em → D chord transition
To move from Em to D;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
- Place index finger on G string fret 2.
4. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
5. D → Bm chord transition
To move from D to Bm;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
- Place pinky on G string fret 4.
6. Bm → Em chord transition
To move from Bm to Em;
- While playing Bm, first lift your index finger and pinky.
- Lift your middle finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on D string from fret 4 to fret 2.
7. Em → G chord transition
To move from Em to G;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on A string fret 2.
8. G → A chord transition
To move from G to A;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 2.
9. A → D chord transition
To move from A to D;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 2 to fret 3.
10. F#m → D chord transition
To move from F#m to D;
- While playing F#m, lift your pinky from D string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 4 to B string fret 3.
- Place middle finger on E string fret 2.
If I Ain't Got You chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in If I Ain't Got You.
- If I Ain't Got You includes 73 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- If I Ain't Got You contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how If I Ain't Got You connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).
- Em → G: 18%
- Em → D: 17%
After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).- D → G: 29%
- D → Em: 17%