Reach Out I’ll Be There (Four Tops) Guitar Lesson with TAB

Reach Out (I'll Be There) Guitar Lesson + TAB
In this guitar lesson, you'll get a chord analysis and all the TAB you need to play this classic in a band!


Reach Out I’ll Be There | TAB


Let’s examine each section, starting with the intro. The chords are ambiguous as to what the key is. Later on, when we get a version of this in the chorus, it is clear that we’re in the key of Bb, meaning this progression uses chords IVm – I, like this:

||: Ebsus4 (IV) Ebm (IVm) | Ebsus4 Ebm Ebsus2 | Bb (I) | Bb :||

In TAB, you’ll see how that Bb goes from Bbm to Bb by hammering on from minor to major.

Reach Out I'll Be There TAB, intro.

Let’s check the verse. This is a somewhat modified II – V in the key of Gb. The passing chord is chord I with its 3rd in the bass, like this:

||: Abm7 (II) Gb/Bb (I/3) | Db (V) :||

The chorus is, as I mentioned earlier, in the key of Bb. That intro line is here reworked slightly, looks like this using TAB:

Reach Out I'll Be There TAB, chorus.

We go from I – IV, then play with the extensions of that IV as it goes sus4minorsus2.

Some choruses have an extra bar of Bb, check when by studying the chords and lyrics above.

Should you feel that you’re not in tune properly with the recording, then that will be because it is slightly sharp. Use my online guitar tuner, set it to 444Hz, rather than 440 and you’ll be good to go.



Reach Out I’ll Be There TAB | Related Pages


Reach Out I’ll Be There | Chords + Lyrics

Reach Out I'll Be There chords lesson.

You can learn how to play Reach Out I’ll Be There by the Four Tops using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, TAB, and the original recording.

Abm7 Gb/Bb | Db | Abm7 Gb/Bb | Db |
Now if you feel that you can’t go on, because all of your hope is gone…


Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics

When you can play the TAB for Reach Out I'll Be There, try these five tunes from the songbook.


Four Tops tunes

Four Tops recorded Reach Out I’ll Be There.

Joining Motown as one of the first vocal groups, Four Tops stuck together, without changing any members, for 44 years.

Best tunes include I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), Reach Out I’ll Be There, Bernadette, and Ain’t No Woman.


Four Tops on the web

Listen to Four Tops on Spotify.


The Funk Brothers tunes

The Funk Brothers recorded Reach Out I’ll Be There's chords.

Motown’s house band, The Funk Brothers was the most successful group of studio musicians of all time.

Their contributions can be heard on Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Dancing In The Street, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, My Girl, and My Guy.


The Funk Brothers on the web

Listen to The Funk Brothers on Spotify


Gloria Gaynor tunes

Gloria Gaynor recorded Reach Out I’ll Be There.

Starting out on the club circuit, Gloria Gaynor got signed in 1971 and started to release disco versions of famous songs in 1975.

Her best tunes include Never Can Say Goodbye, I Will Survive, You’re All I Need To Get By, and Stop in the Name of Love.


Gloria Gaynor on the web

Listen to Gloria Gaynor on Spotify.


Holland-Dozier-Holland tunes

Holland Dozier Holland wrote Reach Out I’ll Be There.

Motown’s main songwriting team, Holland-Dozier-Holland are responsible for some of the biggest tunes of all time.

Their hit parade includes classics such as Can I Get A Witness, Jimmy Mack, Reach Out, I’ll Be There, You Can’t Hurry Love, and Band Of Gold.


Holland-Dozier-Holland on the web

Listen to Hollan Dozier Holland on Spotify


Diana Ross tunes

Diana Ross recorded Reach Out I’ll Be There.

After her success with The Supremes in the 60s, Diana Ross launched a solo career that kept her in the public consciousness for the next two decades.

Her best-known tunes include I’m Coming Out, Upside Down, Endless Love, and Chain Reaction.


Diana on the web

Listen to Diana Ross on Spotify.


About me | Dan Lundholm

Dan Lundholm wrote this guitar lesson and TAB for Reach Out I’ll Be There.

This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm features TAB and covers Reach Out I’ll Be There. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.

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


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