Chords + Lyrics | I Feel For You
Intro
| F# F#6/9 | F# | Bmaj7 A#m | F#/G# G#m9/C# |
| F# F#6/9 | F# | Bmaj7 A#m F#/G# | G#m9/C# | G#m9/C# |
Verse 1
||: F# | Bmaj7 | Emaj7 | F# :||
Baby, baby, when I look at you, I get a warm feeling inside.
There’s something about the things you do, that keeps me satisfied.
Bridge 1
||: F# F#6/9 | F# | Bmaj7 A#m G#m | G#m9/C# :||
I wouldn’t lie to you, baby. It’s mainly a physical thing.
This feeling that I got for you, baby. It makes me wanna sing.
Chorus 1
||: F# F#6/9 | F# | Esus4 E Eadd9 | Esus4 E Eadd9 :||
I feel for you, I think I love you.
I feel for you, I think I love you.
Verse 2
Baby, baby, when I lay with you, there’s no place I’d rather be.
I can’t believe, can’t believe it’s true, the things that you do to me.
Bridge 2
I wouldn’t lie to you, baby, I’m physically attracted to you.
This feeling that I got for you, baby (hey, baby). There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do, for you girl.
Chorus 2
I feel for you, I think I love you.
I feel for you, I think I love you. Play.
Instrumental 1 (as intro)
| F# F#6/9 | F# | Bmaj7 A#m | F#/G# G#m9/C# |
| F# F#6/9 | F# | Bmaj7 A#m F#/G# | G#m9/C# | G#m9/C# |
Woo oh whao!
Chorus 3 (Trumpet solo 1st half)
||: F# F#6 | F# | Esus4 E | Esus4 E :||
I think it’s love.
I feel for you. I think it’s love.
I feel for you. I think I love you.
I feel for you. I think it’s love. Play
Instrumental 2
| F# F#6/9 F#6 | F#6 F#6/9 F#6 | E11 E9 E11 | Esus4 E |
| F# F#6 | F# F#6 | E E6 | E |
Baby, oh yeah.
| F# F#6 | F# F#6 | E7 E E7 | E |
Oh, yeah. Oh, oh no.
Outro chorus
I feel for you. I think I love you (oh no, oh no)
I feel for you. I think I love you. to fade
I Feel For You Backing Track | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find backing tracks to use when learning I Feel For You. I’ve used stem separation to extract the guitar while keeping the drums, bass, keys, horns, and vocals intact.
After studying the chords and TAB, use my backing tracks to prepare for playing this tune with a band.
Should you want to play along with the original recording instead, you need to tune your guitar sharp to 443Hz. In the backing track, I’ve done this job for you by detuning it to 440Hz.
Chord Progression – What’s Going On?
The original version of I Feel For You is a better choice for a live band than Chaka Khan’s cover, which feels more personal and is perhaps better suited to a DJ — even though it became the bigger hit.
With this in mind, let’s focus on learning Prince’s original version. To do that properly, we need a full understanding of the chords and their extensions — so let’s investigate.
Intro
The intro chord riff, packed with rich extensions, plays as follows:
| F# F#6/9 | F# | Bmaj7 A#m | F#/G# G#m9/C# |
| F# F#6/9 | F# | Bmaj7 A#m F#/G# | G#m9/C# | G#m9/C# |
When the pattern repeats, the second time the F#/G# is cut short and the G#m9/C# is held for an extra bar.
Verse
The verse follows a V – I – IV – V progression — a clever twist on the familiar I – IV – V where we here make V feel like home:
||: F# | Bmaj7 | Emaj7 | F# :||
Bridge
The bridge mirrors the intro but with fewer extensions, leaving more space for the vocal:
||: F# F#6/9 | F# | Bmaj7 A#m G#m | G#m9/C# :||
Chorus
The chorus simplifies further, focusing on the V – IV movement, with extensions emphasising the riff:
||: F# F#6/9 | F# | Esus4 E Eadd9 | Esus4 E Eadd9 :||
The third chorus (which first features a trumpet solo) is simpler harmonically as it uses:
||: F# F#6 | F# | Esus4 E | Esus4 E :||
Instrumental
The first instrumental section repeats the intro.
Instrumental 2 is completely different — it even repeats, with shifting extensions. It could arguably be considered a solo:
| F# F#6/9 F#6 | F#6 F#6/9 F#6 | E11 E9 E11 | Esus4 E |
| F# F#6 | F#6 F#6 | E E6 | E |
| F# F#6 | F#6 F#6 | E7 E E7 | E |
Learning the Chords in Practice
Although these chord names are accurate, they look complex on paper and don’t always make it clear what to actually play. The best way to understand them is by studying the TAB, where you can see exactly how the extensions are voiced.
Once you can play the song using the TAB — and understand the notes each chord spells out — returning to the chord symbols becomes helpful rather than confusing. You’ll find my TAB further down this guitar lesson.
After absorbing the TAB, you can play along with the backing tracks using chords and lyrics, or this chord chart to see how Prince constructed I Feel For You’s harmony.
I Feel For You Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Download my chord chart as a PDF and share it with your band to ensure you’re all playing the same extended chords.
Alternatively, use the iReal Pro format to change the key—though that might make things even more challenging!
I Feel For You | TAB
Let’s start with the intro, which also returns later as an instrumental section. First, here’s a version you can use if you do have keyboards covering the main hook:
If you’ve successfully left the keyboard player behind, you’ll need to step up and play both the hook and the chords. Try this version instead:
Verse
Next up is the verse. On the record, the production is sparse, with layered keyboard and guitar parts. Here’s one way you could approach it on a single guitar:
Alternatively, you could play something busier and more repetitive, like this:
Bridge
The bridge is essentially a modified version of the intro:
Chorus
The chorus starts in a similar way, but finishes with a beautiful chord riff. Here, I’m blending guitar and keyboard ideas into one playable part:
Chorus 3 is different — the band strips things back significantly. The guitar can follow that approach, or become more repetitive, like this:
Instrumental 2 (solo)
The awesome solo section can also be performed on guitar. Here’s how:
Once you can play all of this TAB, scroll back up and play along with the backing tracks.
From Early Prince Deep Cut to Global Hit
I Feel For You was originally written, performed, and released by Prince in 1979 on his self-titled album Prince. As one of his earliest compositions, the song already showcased his gift for blending funk, soul, pop, and R&B with emotionally direct lyrics.
Prince’s original version is relatively understated compared to what would come later — built around a smooth groove, light synth textures, and a relaxed vocal delivery that leans into intimacy rather than spectacle. While it wasn’t a major commercial hit at the time, it laid the groundwork for the song’s later reinvention and remains an important example of Prince’s early songwriting brilliance.
The song’s true commercial breakthrough came in 1984 when Chaka Khan released her electrifying cover on the album I Feel For You. Khan’s version transformed the track into a bold, modern funk-pop anthem, updating it with cutting-edge production, punchy drum machines, layered synths, and a more driving rhythmic feel. One of the most distinctive elements of the cover is the opening rap by Melle Mel of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, which famously begins with the line, “Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan…” — an iconic moment that helped bridge funk, pop, and hip-hop in the mainstream.
Chaka Khan’s powerful vocal performance is at the heart of the cover’s success. Where Prince’s original feels cool and restrained, Khan’s interpretation is bold, expressive, and full of attitude. Her voice brings heightened emotional intensity, swagger, and a sense of celebration to the lyrics, turning the song into both a dancefloor hit and a statement of confidence and desire.
The cover became a major international success, reaching No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topping charts in several countries. It also won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, further cementing Khan’s reputation as one of the most commanding vocalists in popular music. Over time, her version has arguably eclipsed the original in mainstream recognition, becoming the definitive rendition for many listeners.
Together, Prince’s original and Chaka Khan’s reinvention illustrate how a great song can evolve across artists, eras, and styles — from a smooth late-70s funk track into a defining mid-80s pop-funk classic providing a lasting cultural impact for both artists.
I Feel For You Chords: Continue Learning
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