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Maroon 5 - If I Ain’t Got You Chords

ChordsG, F#m, Em, D, Bm, A
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

GF#mEmDGF#mEmD
DSomepeoplelivefortheBmfortune
EmSomepeoplelivejustfortheGfame
DSomepeoplelivefortheBmpower,yeah
EmSomepeoplelivejusttoplaytheGgameA
DSomepeopleEmthinkthattheF#mphysicalEmthings
DDefineEmwhat’sF#mwithinEm
I’veDbeenthereEmbefore,butF#mthatlife’saEmbore
SoDfulloftheEmsuperficialF#mD
SomepeopleGwantitall,butIdon’twantF#mnothingatall
Ifitain’tEmyoubaby,ifIain’tDgotyoubaby
SomepeoplewantGdiamondrings,somejustwantF#meverything
ButeverythingmeansEmnothing,ifIain’tgotDyou
DSomepeoplesearchforaBmfountain
EmPromisesforeverGyoungA
DSomepeopleneedthreedozenBmroses
EmAndthat’stheonlywaytoproveyouGlovethemA
DHandmetheEmworldonaF#msilverEmplater
AndDwhataEmgoodwoulditF#mbeEm
DNoonetoEmshare,F#mnoonewhoEmtruly
DCaresEmforF#mmeD
SomepeopleGwantitall,butIdon’twantF#mnothingatall
Ifitain’tEmyoubaby,ifIain’tDgotyoubaby
SomepeoplewantGdiamondrings,somejustwantF#meverything
ButeverythingmeansEmnothing,ifIain’tgotDyou
ArtistMaroon 5
AlbumHands All Over
GenresPop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year2010
KeyG
DifficultyIntermediate

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:

  1. While playing G, lift your middle finger from E string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to A string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 4.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

G to F#m

2. F#m → Em chord transition

Switching from F#m to Em:

  1. While playing F#m, first lift your index finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 4 and place it on D string fret 2.
  3. Place middle finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

F#m to Em

3. Em → D chord transition

To move from Em to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

Em to D

4. D → G chord transition

Here's how to move from D to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

D to G

5. D → Bm chord transition

To move from D to Bm:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 4.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

6. Bm → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from Bm to Em:

  1. While playing Bm, first lift your index finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your middle finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on D string from fret 4 to fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

7. Em → G chord transition

To move 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 4 times.

8. G → A chord transition

Here's how to move from G to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

9. A → D chord transition

Here's how to move from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

10. F#m → D chord transition

To move from F#m to D:

  1. While playing F#m, lift your pinky from D string fret 4.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 4 to B string fret 3.
  4. Place middle finger on E string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

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 (18%).
    • Em → G: 18%
    • Em → D: 18%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → Em: 17%