Hard To Handle | Chords + Lyrics (Otis Redding)
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
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) :||
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) :||
The chorus starts on the V chord, like a blues:
| F7 | F7 | Bb7 N.C | N.C |
An instrumental section follows, 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.
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. Here’s a chord chart.
Hard To Handle Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
You can download my chord chart as a PDF, or using the iReal Pro format so you can change the key in the app.
You should learn both versions of Hard to Handle!
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, and key, it’s worth studying each one carefully. Use the chords and lyrics above and below to help you master them!
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 |
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!
The intro starts with drums, whereas Otis Redding’s version begins with the riff. Using just chords, we can indicate it like this:
| N.C | N.C B riff | B riff | B riff | B riff |
The verse is different too. Instead of using three distinct chords, The Black Crowes add a slash chord:
||: B (I) E/G# (IV/3) | B E/G# :||
The chorus remains nearly the same, though played with power chords instead of dominant 7ths:
| F#5 | F#5 | B5 N.C | N.C |
The biggest difference between the two versions is in the first instrumental section:
| 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!
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
You can download my chord chart as a PDF, or using the iReal Pro format so you can change the key in the app.
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