Intermediate Electric, Motown & Soul, Songbook A-Z

It Takes Two Chords | Marvin Gaye + Kim Weston Guitar Lesson

In this guitar lesson, you’ll get the chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a full chord chart, and TAB to guide you as you learn It Takes Two by Marvin Gaye!

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Chords + Lyrics | It Takes Two

Intro

Verse 1

||: Bb | Bb | Bb | Bb :||
One can have a dream, baby. two can make that dream so real.
One can talk about being in love, two can say how it really feels.
One can wish upon a star, two can make that wish come true, yeah.
One can stand alone in the dark, two can make the light shine through.

Chorus 1

| Eb | Eb E | F | F N.C |
It takes two, baby, it takes two, baby.
| Bb | Bb | Bb | Bb7 |
Me and you, it just takes two.
| Eb | Eb E | F | F N.C |
It takes two, baby, it takes two, baby. To make a dream come true, it just takes two.

Instrumental 1

Verse 2

One can have a broken heart, living in misery.
Two can really ease the pain, like a perfect remedy.
One can be alone in a bar, like an island he’s all alone.
Two can make just about any place, seem just like bein’ at home.

Chorus 2

It takes two, baby, it takes two, baby.
Me and you, it just takes two.
It takes two, baby, it takes two, baby. To make a dream come true, it just takes two.

Instrumental 2

Solo

Instrumental

Verse 3

Ooh, one can go out to a movie, looking for a special treat.
Two can make that single movie something really kind of sweet.
Yeah, one can take a walk in the moonlight, thinking that it’s really nice.
Ah, but two walkin’ a hand in hand is like addin’ just a pinch of spice.

Chorus 3

It takes two, baby, it takes two, baby.
Me and you, it just takes two.
It takes two, baby, it takes two, baby. To make a dream come true, it just takes two.

End

It Takes Two: Simple Chords, Timeless Groove

With its straightforward chord progression, It Takes Two is an easy yet essential addition to any Motown/Soul band’s setlist.

The song kicks off with a riff that plays around the 3rd, moving down to a sus2 and up to a sus4, before dropping the 3rd entirely (5 chord) at the end of every fourth bar:

This instrumental section returns at the end of every chorus.

Verse + Chorus

The verse keeps things even simpler—just a Bb chord throughout.

The chorus finally brings in movement, shifting between IV and V, stopping, and returning to Bb before repeating:

| Eb | Eb E | F | F N.C |
| Bb | Bb | Bb | Bb |
| Eb | Eb E | F | F N.C |

To get TAB for all this, check that part of the lesson here: It Takes Two – Guitar Lesson with TAB.

Here’s a full chord chart to get you playing.

It Takes Two Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download

You can download my chord chart and share it with your bandmates—guaranteed to make you the hero of the day! Will you go for a PDF or the iReal Pro format?

It Takes Two TAB | Course Preview

There’s TAB for all sections of It Takes Two in the course, all arranged to work for a single guitar in a band.

As a preview, here’s the intro—a string line arranged for guitar. I’m guessing you don’t have a string section for this Saturday’s gig either!

It Takes Two chords and TAB, intro and Instrumental section.

One of Marvin Gaye’s Finest Duets

Before Marvin Gaye became a pioneering songwriter with classics like Mercy Mercy Me and What’s Going On, he was already a Motown superstar, singing hits crafted by the label’s legendary songwriting teams.

Among his many successes, Gaye recorded a series of unforgettable duets with Diana Ross, Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell, and Mary Wells. Some of the best include Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, You’re All I Need to Get By, Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing, and It Takes Two.

For bands with both male and female vocalists, these songs are perfect additions to a setlist. It Takes Two is particularly easy to learn, thanks to its simple chord progression.

Looking for inspiration beyond the original recording? Check out the second video in the playlist above for Tina Turner and Rod Stewart’s take on the song.

It Takes Two Chords: Continue Learning

Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: It Takes Two (Marvin Gaye + Kim Weston) Guitar Lesson with TAB.

Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy: