Jimmy Mack TAB | Intro
We’ll begin by figuring out the key and understanding the chord progression in Roman numerals.
In the key of C, the chords would be:
- Cmaj7 (I)
- Dm7 (II)
- Em7 (III)
- Fmaj7 (IV)
- G7 (V)
- Am7 (VI)
- Bm7b5 (VII)
Move that up one fret to the key of Db, and we get:
- Dbmaj7 (I)
- Ebm7 (II)
- Fm7 (III)
- Gbmaj7 (IV)
- Ab7 (V)
- Bbm7 (VI)
- Cm7b5 (VII)
The chorus and intro of Jimmy Mack use the following progression:
II – IIm7 – I – IV (V)
🎯 Use the TAB loops from the playlist above to work on each part before trying the band-only practice loop:
Example 1
We start by playing the chords in a simple voicing.
Example 2
To make this more musical, pick three strings and strum them in a triplet rhythm until beat 4. Next, we add ties and slides.
Make sure you can play the part exactly as written before you experiment with variations.
Example 3 – 4
We now explore the next area of the neck, starting with an A minor shape.
This won’t sound right at first — until you simplify it into a three-string voicing.
Here’s how those chord shapes look as part of the full guitar part. This time, we slide into the Dbmaj7 in rhythm, rather than rushing into it as in example 2.
Example 5-6
We now explore the top of the neck, starting with an E minor shape.
Again, this won’t sound right at first — until you simplify it into a three-string voicing.
🎯 Practice Tips:
- Work through each example one by one
- Only move on when the part feels natural and relaxed
- Eventually, stop looking at the TAB and move freely around the neck
Next time, we’ll learn how to play the chorus.
Jimmy Mack Guitar Lesson | Related Pages
Intermediate Electric Course
When playing Motown & Soul tunes, we must know all CAGED barre chords and pentatonic scales to build rhythm parts, incorporate licks and play solos.
Complete the Intermediate Electric Course and you will map out the fretboard, as well as gain an understanding of how to create a guitar part that works in a band.
Jimmy Mack | 8 Step-by-step guitar lessons
Jimmy Mack is your introduction to chord substitutions, this is something we’ll do a lot more of in the future.
Seemingly simple to do, once you get it, you’ll see that we’ve opened a can of worms here. You can easily spend the rest of your life substituting chords.
Jimmy Mack | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Jimmy Mack by Martha and The Vandellas using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, backing track, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Ebm | Gbmaj7 | Dbmaj7 | Gb |
Jimmy Mack, Jimmy. Oh, Jimmy Mack, when are you comin’ back…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
