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 Otis Redding’s original 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!
Outlined quickly, the notes are:
||: 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, the chords can be described as:
||: Bb7 | Bb7 (A7 Bb7 Eb6) :||
Chorus
The chorus starts on the V chord, as in a traditional blues:
| F7 | F7 | Bb7 N.C | N.C |
Instrumental sections
The instrumental section follows the chorus, beginning on the IV chord before moving up to V. This section never repeats in Hard to Handle, and The Black Crowes’ version changes the chords here—often causing confusion in cover bands (see more 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—worth comparing!
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 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 along 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 to easily change the key within the app.
Hard To Handle TAB | Course Preview
In the course, we study all sections of Hard To Handle using TAB. The parts are far more intricate than I initially realised.
After looping them, I discovered plenty of variation and learned a lot in the process—knowledge I’m excited to pass on to you.
As a preview, here’s the verse. Notice how we start on the eighth note of beat 3 in bars 1 and 3, but a sixteenth note earlier in bars 2 and 4—this subtle shift is what gives it its 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 his 1969 album The Immortal Otis Redding.
At the time, the song didn’t make much of a chart impact, but over the years it gained recognition through numerous cover versions. Most notably, The Black Crowes recorded it for their 1990 album Shake Your Money Maker, turning it into their biggest hit.
Since Hard to Handle is a cover band staple, it’s essential to know both versions. With differences in arrangement, lyrics, chords, and key, it’s worth studying each 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 that The Black Crowes simply raised the key from Bb to B and gave Hard to Handle more of a rock feel than the original soul version.
However, a closer look reveals 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’s version, either putting the notes in brackets a semitone up or just writing “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 one slash chord. E/G# can be slightly misleading, as that’s what the chord shape looks like on the guitar, while the bass simply plays B.
||: B (I) E/G# (IV/3) | B E/G# :||
Chorus
The chorus remains largely the same, though it’s 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 appears in the first instrumental section, or what we might call a chorus tag:
| D5 (bIIIx) E5 (IV) | A5 (bVIIx) E5 (IV) B5 (I) |
Here, they play bIIIx – IV instead of IV – V. Whether intentional or accidental, it works beautifully.
The guitar parts in the Black Crowes’ version aren’t just a semitone up with occasional chord changes—they are fundamentally different, reflecting the rockier arrangement. I’ve transcribed both versions; members can 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 to change the key directly within the app.
Hard To Handle TAB | Course Preview (Black Crowes)
In the course, we don’t just study Otis Redding’s original version—we also dive deep into The Black Crowes’ TAB.
The verse features more variation and is played by several guitars on the recording. Here’s what I’ve arranged to work if you’re the sole guitarist in the band. Be sure to compare this with 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:
