Chords + Lyrics | Ain’t Nobody
Intro
||: Ebm7 | Ebm7 :||
||: Ebm11 :|| x8
||: Ebm7 | Eb7sus4 :||
Verse 1
| Ebm Db/Eb Ebm7 | Ebm Db/Eb Ebm7 |
Captured effortlessly, that’s the way it was.
| Bmaj7 (Db/B) | Bmaj7 (Db/B) |
Happened so naturally, did not know it was love.
| Ebm Db/Eb Ebm7 | Ebm Db/Eb Ebm7 |
The next thing I felt was you, holdin’ me close.
| Bmaj7 (Db/B) | Bmaj7 (Db/B) |
What was I gonna do? I let myself go.
| Ebm/Bb Bbm7 Ebm7/Bb | Bmaj7 Db Ebm7/Db |
And now we’re flyin’ through the stars. I hope this night will last forever.
Instrumental 1
||: Ebm7 Db/Eb :||
Verse 2
| Eb5 Db5 | Db5 Eb5 |
I’ve been waitin’ for you, it’s been so long.
| B5 Db5 | Db5 Eb5 |
I knew just what I would do when I heard your song.
| Eb5 Db5 | Db5 Eb5 |
You filled my heart with a kiss, you gave me freedom.
| B5 Db5 | Db5 Eb5 |
You knew I could not resist, I needed someone.
| Bb5 | B5 Db5 | Eb5 Db5 | Db5 Eb5 |
And now we’re flyin’ through the stars. I hope this night will last forever. Oh, oh, oh, oh.
Chorus 1
||: Ebm7 Gbmaj7 | Abm7 B :||
Ain’t nobody (nobody), loves me better (loves me better).
Makes me happy, makes me feel this way (nobody).
Ain’t nobody (ain’t nobody), loves me better, than you.
Instrumental 2
||: Ebm Db/Eb :||
Verse 3 (as verse 2)
I wait for nighttime to come, to bring you to me.
I can’t believe I’m the one, I was so lonely.
I feel like no one could feel, I must be dreamin’.
I want this dream to be real, I need this feelin’.
I make my wish upon a star and hope this night will last forever. Oh, oh, oh, oh.
Chorus 2
Ain’t nobody (ain’t nobody), loves me better (make me feel this way).
Makes me happy. Makes me feel this way (nobody, baby).
Ain’t nobody (nobody, baby), loves me better (nobody makes me feel).
Ain’t nobody, loves me better, than you.
Middle 8
||: Ebm7 Db/Eb | Abm7 Db :||
At first, you put your arms around me.
Then you put your charms around me.
I can’t resist this sweet surrender.
Oh, my nights are warm and tender.
We stare into each other’s eyes.
And what we see is no surprise.
Got a feeling most would treasure.
And a love so deep we cannot measure.
Chorus 3
Ain’t nobody (ain’t nobody), loves me better (make me feel this way).
Makes me happy. Makes me feel this way (makes me feel this way).
Chorus 4
||: Ain’t nobody (ain’t nobody), loves me better (nobody).
Ain’t nobody, loves me better (nobody, baby).
Ain’t nobody (nobody, baby), loves me better.
Makes me happy, makes me feel this way. :||
Ain’t Nobody Backing Tracks | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find backing tracks to use when learning Ain’t Nobody Backing. 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.
Chord Progressions – What’s Going on?
Set in Ebm, Ain’t Nobody’s chorus revolves around a keyboard-driven progression that moves from chord VI to II (Ebm to Abm), a sequence ranked #10 on my top 10 chord progression list. There’s also a Gbmaj7 and B chord in there which most musicians miss, understandable as almost only the bass note changes.
The full chorus progression in Ain’t Nobody looks like this:
||: Ebm7 (VI) Gbmaj7 (I) | Abm7 (II) B (IV) :||
Verse
In the verse, the guitar alternates between Ebm and Db/Eb (VI and V/b7), then shifts to Bmaj7 and Db/B (IV and V/b7). The end of the verse ascends via:
Bbm7 – Bmaj7 – Db – Ebm.
There’s no guitar on the original recording during verse 1, but in the TAB you find further down this guitar lesson, I’ve designed some you can learn in case you don’t have a keyboard player on the gig.
Verses 2 and 3 simplify things using power chords — this is also where the guitar comes in, and yes, I’ve TABbed that too!
||: Eb5 Db5 | Db5 Eb5 |
| B5 Db5 | Db5 Eb5 :||
Ending with:
| Bb5 | B5 Db5 | Eb5 Db5 | Db5 Eb5 |
Middle 8
In the middle 8, the chords alternate as follows:
||: Ebm7 (VI) Db/Eb (V/2) | Abm7 (II) Db (V) :||
There’s a great guitar part on the original recording well worth memorising, it’s so great, live I always play this in the same way (check the TAB).
Intro
The intro is particularly distinctive, built around sustained Ebm11 chords. I’ve arranged detailed TAB for this section too which outlines how to play these keyboard parts on the guitar.
This chord chart could be a helpful reference for your first few gigs, this is also what you find in the backing track videos above.
Ain’t Nobody Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Download the PDF chart here: Ain’t Nobody chord chart PDF
Or grab the editable iReal Pro version: Ain’t Nobody iReal Pro
You can transpose the key in the iReal Pro app if needed, though Ebm tends to work well for most singers and bands, in fact, I’ve never come across a band that doesn’t pay Ain’t Nobody’s chords in the original key!
Ain’t Nobody | TAB
Let’s go through all the sections of Ain’t Nobody using TAB. Some of these parts are originally played on keyboard and have been adapted for guitar—especially in the intro.
There’s quite a bit to take in here.
The first section is that wild keyboard riff, slightly modified. The original part is a strange cross-rhythm—really fun to play, but I felt it might cause more confusion than it’s worth, so I’ve straightened it out a bit.
The initial keyboard riff is a minor 7 arpeggio, using an Am shape.
Next, there’s another keyboard part. If you play it, it might annoy your bandmates—so maybe stick to that quirky first riff instead…
However, if there’s no keyboard player in your band, you should definitely play this second arpeggio. Make sure to learn it well.
Finally, there’s a string line, which some keyboardists switch to—freeing up that second arpeggio part for you to take over.
As you can see, there are plenty of options for how to approach the intro to Ain’t Nobody. The best strategy is to learn all of these parts and then choose what to play based on the specific band setup you’re working with. Aim to contribute, not to clash.
Let’s move on to Verse 1 and uncover more musical dilemmas!
Everything you see here is, once again, adapted from keyboard parts. The chord riff stays more or less the same throughout—it’s the bass movement that creates those unusual chord names.
I’ve written in Ebm7 at the end of each bar, followed by Bmaj7. There’s only a one-note difference between the two, but that tiny variation gives the part a subtle lift.
If you do have a keyboard player, you might consider dropping out during Verse 1 and using the time to check your tuning—instead of getting in the way. But if there’s no keyboardist, definitely play the part shown above. Your bandmates will be impressed!
Verse riff
As we enter verse 2, we get an actual guitar part!
It’s striking how much easier this section is compared to the keyboard bits—and how the difference in rhythm makes the earlier part harder to memorise.
The final beat of the verse features a lick that leads us into the chorus. It uses the Conspirian scale.
Here’s the chorus.
That final bar is the same lick you played in the intro—if the keyboardist let you!
When playing this live, I like to vary the lick each time it repeats. Use the E Aeolian mode to create your own variations.
Lastly, here’s the middle 8. Be sure to learn the chords, even though you’ll be playing what’s written in the TAB…
When you can play all this TAB, play along with the backing track/chord chart further up this guitar lesson.
A Modern Standard
Ain’t Nobody was released in 1983 by Rufus, with Chaka Khan delivering one of her most iconic vocal performances. Despite only reaching #403 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, its enduring popularity tells a different story.
Today, it’s a staple in any female-led cover band setlist—on par with Respect or You Can’t Hurry Love—and has rightfully earned its place as a modern classic.
Theer is no way you can make a living playing guitar without knowing what to do with Ain’t Nobody’s chords!
Ain’t Nobody Chords: Continue Learning
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