If I Ain’t Got You (Alicia Keys) Guitar Lesson with TAB

In this guitar lesson, you get TAB for how to play all sections of If I Ain't Got You. These parts will work on just one acoustic guitar!

If I Ain’t Got You | TAB

Let’s go through all sections of If I Ain’t Got You using TAB, here’s the intro.

You need to play this with your fingers, then in the last bar as you hold that G, find the pick and play the rest of the tune (until the outro) using a pick.

These chords are the same as the chorus, by the way, a very clever songwriting trick!

Here’s the verse. The chords are I – VI – II – V. Then I – I#dim7 – II – V, like this:

Notice how incredibly empty the verse is compared to the intro. Start with playing exactly as written, you can improvise “in the style of” later.

Here’s the bridge.

Now we go up the scale and then back, like this: I – II – III – II. There’s a quick three chords run at the end the second time we play it using IV – III – II.

I’ve developed the part on the second line, start by playing exactly as written, then modify it if you wish.

Here’s the chorus.

This is similar rhythmically to the bridge, we’re blending 8th and 16th notes.

Make sure you can play all TAB as written, then stop staring at it and play what feels natural, perhaps reading the chords with lyrics and chord chart.

If I Ain’t Got You TAB | Related Pages

If I Ain’t Got You | Chords + Lyrics

You can learn to play If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.

| G | Em7 | Am7 | D9 C/G |
Some people live for the fortune. Some people live just for the fame…

Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics

When you can play If I Ain't Got You's chords, try these five tunes from the songbook.

Alicia Keys tunes

Find out more about Alicia Keys, the woman that wrote If I Ain't Got You's chords.

Alicia Keys had instant success with her debut album Songs In Am, mainly down to its single Fallin’.

Following this, she has firmly established herself with hits such as If I Ain’t Got You, This Girl Is On Fire, and Empire State Of Mind.

Alicia Keys on the web

About me | Dan Lundholm

Dan Lundholm wrote this guitar lesson and TAB for If I Ain't Got You.

This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm features TAB and covers If I Ain’t Got You. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.

Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.