Chords + Lyrics | Knock On Wood
Intro
| E5 | G5 A5 | B5 | D5 B5 |
Verse 1
| A6 | A6 | A6 | A6 |
I don’t want to lose, this good thing, that I got.
| E7 | E7 | E7 | E7 |
‘Cause if I do, I will surely, surely lose a lot.
| A6 | A6 | A6 | A6 |
‘Cause your love, is better, than any love I know.
Chorus 1
| E7 | A7 | E7 | A7 |
It’s like thunder, lightning, the way you love me is frightening.
| N.C | E5 | G5 A5 | B5 | D5 B5 |
I better knock, knock on wood, baby.
Verse 2
I’m not superstitious, about you, but I can’t take no chance.
You got me spinnin’ baby. Baby, I’m in a trance.
‘Cause your love, is better, than any love I know.
Chorus 2
It’s like thunder, lightning, the way you love me is frightenin’.
| N.C | E5 | G5 A5 | B5 | D5 B5 A5 G5 |
I better knock (knock), on wood, baby.
Instrumental
| F#7 | G#7 | A7 | C B |
Verse 3
It’s no secret, that woman, is my lovin’ cup.
‘Cause she sees, to it, that I get enough.
Just one touch, from her, you know it means so much.
Chorus 3 (as chorus 2)
It’s like thunder (huh), lightning (yeah), the way you love me is frightenin’.
I better knock (knock), on wood, baby. I better knock (knock), knock.
Outro
||: E7 | A7 | E7 | A7 :||
Oh yeah, I think I better knock (knock, knock) on wood.
||: I think I better knock (knock, knock) on wood :|| (repeat to fade)
Knock On Wood Chords: Unlocking the Magic of A6 and E7 in the Progression
Knock on Wood features some clever chords, which you can explore in detail using TAB. Follow this link for that part of the lesson: Knock on Wood – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Intro + Chorus
For example, the intro (which later returns as the chorus) isn’t diatonic to the E major scale or any major mode. Instead, it follows the E minor pentatonic scale.
Above, I’ve written these chords as 5 chords. If you have a horn section, you can play them as smaller major chords instead. However, without a horn section, using 5 chords will give the riff more power, like this:
| E5 | G5 A5 | B5 | D5 B5 |
Verse
The verse features a great A6 chord that you’ll want to slide into. I particularly love how this is used over the A chord, but the dominant 7th (dom7) chord works brilliantly over the E chord, like this:
| A6 (IV) | A6 | A6 | A6 |
| E7 (I) | E7 | E7 | E7 |
| A6 | A6 | A6 | A6 |
If you play the A6 as an E shape and the E7 as a C shape, both on strings 4-2, you’ll go from A, C#, and F#, to G#, D, and E—that’s some tight voice leading! The TAB will help describe this in more detail (link above).
In the instrumental section, if your horn section isn’t present, you can play the horn line on guitar—it’s easy to play, especially with the TAB.
After studying the TAB, you can use this simple chord chart.
Knock On Wood Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Knock On Wood chord chart PDF.
This chart was created using iRealPro, here’s a link to that file: Knock On Wood iReal Pro. Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key.
Knock On Wood TAB | Course Preview
In the course, you get TAB for all sections of Knock On Wood. As a preview, here’s the intro and first chorus.
Eddie Floyd and Amii Stewart’s signature song
Eddie Floyd’s iconic song, Knock on Wood, was co-written with Steve Cropper and released back in 1966 on Stax Records.
The song was a hit, reaching #1 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues charts and #28 on Billboard.
It was first covered by Otis Redding the following year, and David Bowie did a live version in 1974 on his album David Live. Even Eric Clapton recorded a version in 1985 on his album Behind the Sun.
However, the most successful version was recorded by Amii Stewart in 1979 as a disco anthem. She even named her album after the song, which also features a disco version of Light My Fire (originally by The Doors)—perhaps not the best tune to adapt into a disco version, but it certainly left an impression.
All these cover versions have ensured that Knock on Wood remains ingrained in the public’s consciousness for decades.
In my opinion, though, it’s the working band playing it every weekend that’s had the biggest impact, but maybe I’m biased…
Knock On Wood Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Knock On Wood (Eddie Floyd) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
