Chords + Lyrics | Hard To Handle
Intro
||: Bb (Bb D Eb F) | Bb (Eb Db Eb Db) :||
Verse 1
||: Bb7 | Bb7 (A7 Bb7 Eb6) :||
Baby, here I am, I’m a man on the scene.
I can give you what you want but you gotta go home with me.
I have got some good old lovin’, and I got some in store.
When I get through throwin’ it on you, you gotta come back for more.
Chorus 1
| F7 | F7 |
Boys and things will come by the dozen, but that ain’t nothin’ but drugstore lovin’.
| Bb7 N.C | N.C |
Pretty little thing let me light your chemical. Mama, I’m sure hard to handle now, yes around.
Instrumental 1
| Eb F | Ab Eb Bb |
Verse 2
Action speaks louder than words and I’m a man of a great experience.
I know you got you another man, but I can love you better than him.
Take my hand, don’t be afraid, I’m wanna prove every word I say.
I’m advertising love for free, so won’t you place your ads with me.
Chorus 2
Boys will come a dime by the dozen, but that ain’t nothing but ten cents love.
Pretty little thing let me light your chemicals. Mama, I’m sure hard to handle now, yes around.
Instrumental 2
||: Ab Eb Bb | Ab Eb Bb :||
Verse 3
Baby, here I am, I’m a man on the scene.
I can give you what you want but you gotta go home with me.
I have got some good old lovin’, and I got some more in store.
When I get through throwin’ it on you, you gotta come back for more.
Chorus 3
Boys will come a dime by the dozen, that ain’t nothin’ but drugstore love.
Pretty little thing, let me light your chemical. Mama, I’m sure hard to handle now, yes around.
Instrumental 3
||: Ab Eb Bb | Ab Eb Bb :||
Outro
||: Bb7 | Bb7 :||
Uh, give it to me. I got to have it.
Give it to me, good old lovin’. Some of that good old lovin.
I’m a big old man, mama. Well I’m too hard to handle.
Hard to Handle Chords: Learn the Iconic Progressions and Riffs
In this lesson, we study both the Otis Redding chords and the Black Crowes cover version, let’s start with the original.
Intro
The legendary intro moves up the major scale but down the minor pentatonic, instantly setting the Soul feel of Hard to Handle. It also signals that the song is about to kick in!
This is best described in TAB, but as a quick reminder, we can outline the notes like this:
||: Bb (Bb D Eb F) | Bb (Eb Db Eb Db) :||
Verse
The verse follows a pattern similar to Soul Man and Knock On Wood. Studying these songs will help you develop as a Soul guitarist. Without using TAB, we can describe the chords as:
||: Bb7 | Bb7 (A7 Bb7 Eb6) :||
Chorus
The chorus starts on the V chord, like a blues:
| F7 | F7 | Bb7 N.C | N.C |
Instrumental sections
An instrumental section follow the chorus, beginning on the IV chord before moving up to V. This section never repeats in Hard to Handle, and in The Black Crowes’ version, they change the chords here—often leading to confusion in cover bands (see more about this further along in this lesson).
The correct chords, with Roman numerals, are:
| Eb (IV) F (V) | Ab (bVIIx) Eb (IV) Bb (I) |
That bVIIx also appears in Get Back by The Beatles, do compare!
In the second and third instrumental sections, we loop the last bar instead:
||: Ab Eb Bb | Ab Eb Bb :||
The outro is based around a static Bb7. In the course, I’ve transcribed all sections, including how to play that outro horn part on the guitar. Here’s a link: Hard To Handle – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
When you can play all sections, use this chord chart as a guide to play with Otis.
Hard To Handle Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
You can download my chord chart as a PDF, or use the iReal Pro format so you can change the key in the app.
Hard To Handle TAB | Course Preview
We study all sections of Hard To Handle using TAB in the course. The parts are much more intricate than I first assumed.
Having looped them, I discovered plenty of variation and learned loads in the process which I’m very pleased to be able to pass on to you.
As a preview of my findings, here’s the verse. Notice how we start on the 8th note of beat 3 in bar 1 and 3, but one 16th earlier in bar 2 and 4 – this is what makes it groove!
You should learn both versions
Released in 1968 as the B-side to Amen, Hard to Handle came out just a year after Otis Redding’s unexpected passing. It was later included on the 1969 album The Immortal Otis Redding.
At the time, the song didn’t achieve much chart success, but over the years, it gained recognition through various cover versions.
Most notably, The Black Crowes recorded their take on it for their 1990 album Shake Your Money Maker, turning it into their biggest hit.
Since Hard to Handle is a staple of cover band setlists, you’re expected to know both versions.
With differences in arrangement, lyrics, chords, and key, it’s worth studying each one carefully. Use the chords and lyrics above and below to guide you.
Hard To Handle | Chords + Lyrics (The Black Crowes)
Intro
| N.C | N.C B riff | B riff | B riff | B riff |
Verse 1
||: B E/G# | B E/G# :||
Baby, here I am, I’m the man on the scene.
I can give you what you want but you gotta come home with me.
I’ve got some good old lovin’, and I got some more in store.
When I get through throwin’ it on you, you gotta come back for more.
Chorus 1
| F#5 | F#5 |
Boys and things that come by the dozen, that ain’t nothin’ but drugstore lovin’.
| B5 N.C | N.C |
Hey little thing, let me light your chemicals. ‘Cause, oh, mama, I’m sure hard to handle now, gets around.
Chorus tag 1
| D5 E5 | A5 E5 B5 |
Verse 2
Action speaks louder than words and I’m a man of great experience.
I know you got another man but I can love you better than him.
Take my hand, don’t be afraid, I’m gonna prove every word I say.
I’m advertising love for free, so you can place your ads with me.
Chorus 2
| F#5 | F#5 |
Boys will come along, a dime by the dozen, that ain’t nothing but ten cent lovin’.
| B5 N.C | N.C |
Hey little thing, let me light your chemicals. Oh, mama, I’m sure hard to handle now, gets around.
Chorus tag 2
||: A5 E5 B5 :|| x4
Yeah, hard to handle now. Oh, baby.
Verse 3
Baby, here I am, I’m the man on your scene.
I can give you what you want but you gotta come a home with me.
I have got some good old lovin’, and I got some more in store.
When I get through throwin’ it on you, you gotta come a-runnin’ back for more.
Chorus 3
Boys will run along, a dime by the dozen, that ain’t nothin’ but drugstore lovin’.
Hey little thing, let me light your chemicals. Oh, mama, I’m sure hard to handle now, gets around.
Chorus tag 3
Hard. Hard to handle now. Oh yeah, yeah, hey, yeah. Play it.
Solo
||: B E/G# :|| x8
Chorus 4
Boys will run along, a dime by the dozen, that ain’t nothing but ten cent lovin’.
Hey little babe, let me light your chemicals. Oh, mama, I’m sure hard to handle now, gets around.
Chorus tag 4
||: A5 E5 B5 :|| x4
Yeah. So hard to handle now. Oh, yeah.
Outro
||: B E/G# :|| x8
Baby, good lovin’. Baby. Baby.
Oh, good lovin’. I need good lovin’
I got to have it, oh yeah.
Chorus tag 5
||: A5 E5 B5 :|| x4
Yeah. Yeah. So hard to handle, now, yeah. Mm-mm.
Hard to Handle (Black Crowes) Chords: Learn the Rock Progressions
At first glance, it may seem like The Black Crowes simply raised the key from Bb to B and gave Hard to Handle more of a rock feel than soul.
However, on closer inspection, they made a few other key changes—let’s take a look!
Intro
The intro starts with drums, whereas Otis Redding’s version begins with the riff. Using just chords, we can indicate it like I did for Otis version, putting the notes in brackets a semitone up, or just write “riff”, like this:
| N.C | N.C B riff | B riff | B riff | B riff |
Verse
The verse is different. Instead of using three distinct chords, The Black Crowes add just the one slash chord. E/G# is slightly misleading as that’s what the chord shape looks like on the guitar, the bass just plays B…
||: B (I) E/G# (IV/3) | B E/G# :||
Chorus
The chorus remains nearly the same, though played with power chords instead of dominant 7ths:
| F#5 | F#5 | B5 N.C | N.C |
Instrumental (chorus tag)
The biggest difference between the two versions is in the first instrumental section, or perhaps we should call it a chorus tag:
| D5 (bIIIx) E5 (IV) | A5 (bVIIx) E5 (IV) B5 (I) |
As you can see, they play bIIIx – IV instead of IV – V. Whether this was an intentional choice or a happy accident, it works!
The guitar parts in the Black Crowes version of Hard To Handle aren’t just a semitone up and sometimes different chords, as this is a rock version, they are completely different.
I’ve transcribed both, members access them here: Hard To Handle – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Here’s a chord chart—make sure to learn both the original and this frequently referenced cover.
Hard To Handle (Black Crowes) Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
You can download my chord chart as a PDF, or use the iReal Pro format so you can change the key in the app.
Hard To Handle TAB | Course Preview (Black Crowes)
In the course, we don’t just study Otis’ original version, we also dive deep into the Black Crowes’ TAB.
The verse has variation and is played by several guitars, here’s what I came up with that will work if you’re the only guitarist in the band. Do compare this to Otis Redding’s verse part earlier in the lesson.
Hard To Handle Chords | Related Pages
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Hard To Handle (Otis Redding + Black Crowes) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
