Hard To Handle (Otis Redding + The Black Crowes) Guitar Lesson with Backing Tracks + TAB

In this Guitar Lesson, learn how to play both the original and The Black Crowes’ cover of Hard To Handle. The lesson includes plenty of TAB, including how to play horn lines - Try it with Backing Tracks!

Hard To Handle | TAB

Let’s work through all the sections of the original recording before moving on to the rock cover version.

Intro

We move up the Bb major scale and down the minor pentatonic.

Verse

This part is fantastic. On the recording, there is more variation, but if you nail this and then stop looking at the TAB—allowing the part to flow naturally—you’ll be playing very close to what Steve Cropper does on the original.

Chorus

Just like the verse, the chorus has subtle rhythmic variations. Nailing these details really makes the part groove!

Instrumental

Following the chorus, we get the instrumental, or perhaps the chorus tag. There are two sections: here’s the first. You could add something on beat 1, but I prefer it this way.

The second instrumental section simply loops the second bar four times:

Outro

Just as I was putting the guitar down, the outro played, and I loved the horn line, so I had to transcribe it as well. If you don’t have a horn section in the band, I highly recommend playing this part towards the end.

Having practised all sections, try it with the Backing Tracks, using the chord chart as a guide.

Next, check out the Black Crowes version as well!

Hard To Handle | TAB (The Black Crowes)

Intro

The Black Crowes’ version starts with drums, then plays the same intro as Otis, just a semitone up:

Verse

The verse is not merely a semitone up—they’ve rewritten it, keeping the concept of variation.

The E/G# chord is written this way to indicate the shape, though the bass player doesn’t actually go to G#.

Chorus

The chorus is straightforward. You may want to hold the F#5 depending on how much sustain your rock tone provides.

Chorus Tag

Here’s where it changes. In Otis’ version, it’s IV – V, then the riff. The Black Crowes play bIIIx – IV. It might have been an intentional choice—they certainly make it work. In the rock version, the rhythm hits the downbeat clearly.