Knock On Wood | Chords + Lyrics
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: Learn the progressions
Knock On Wood has some very clever chords which you can examine in great detail using TAB, follow this link for that part of the lesson: Knock On Wood – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
For example, the intro, which later comes back as a chorus is not diatonic to the E major scale or any major mode, instead, it follows the E Minor Pentatonic.
Above, I’ve written these chords as 5 chords. Should you have a horn section, you can play them all as smaller major chords instead. If you don’t have a horn section, 5 chords will give the riff more power.
The verse has a great 6 chord that you want to slide into, I love how this is used over A chord, but a dom7 over 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, all 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 certainly help describe this (link above).
The instrumental section’s horn line can be played on the guitar should your horn section not be present, it’s easy to play if you have the TAB.
Having studied that TAB, use this simple chord chart.
Knock On Wood Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
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 is Eddie Floyd’s and Amii Stewart’s signature song!
Eddie Floyd‘s signature song, Knock On Wood was co-written with Steve Cropper and released all the way back in 1966 on Stax.
It was a hit, reaching #1 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues charts, and #28 on Billboard.
First covered by Otis Redding the following year, David Bowie did a live version in 1974 on his album David Live. Even Eric Clapton did a version in 1985 on his album Behind the Sun.
But the most successful version was recorded as a disco anthem by Amii Stewart in 1979, she even named her album after it which also has Light My Fire (The Doors) on it (perhaps not the best tune to do as a disco version…).
All these cover versions have resulted in Knock On Wood remaining in the public’s consciousness for decades.
In my opinion, above all these, it’s the working band playing it every weekend that has had the biggest impact, but maybe I’m biased…
Knock On Wood Chords | Related Pages
Knock On Wood | Guitar Lesson + TAB
In this lesson, there’s a full analysis as well as TAB, including how to incorporate the horns in the instrumental section of Knock On Wood.
| A6 | A6 | A6 | A6 |
I don’t want to lose, this good thing, that I got…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
- Hard To Handle chords by Otis Redding
- Hold On, I’m Comin’ chords by Sam & Dave
- In the Midnight Hour chords by Wilson Pickett
- Soul Man chords by Sam & Dave
- Take Me To The River chords by Al Green
Booker T. & The M.G.’s tunes
Led by piano and organ player Booker T. Jones, the Stax Records house band played behind numerous legendary artists.
Hits include Green Onions, Born Under A Bad Sign, Dock Of The Bay, Ain’t No Sunshine, Soul Man, Hold On I’m Coming, Knock On Wood, and Respect.
Booker T. & The M.G.’s on the web
David Bowie tunes
David Bowie was an English singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger, and audio engineer.
His biggest hits include (Is There) Life On Mars?, Starman, Ziggy Stardust, Let’s Dance, China Girl, and Heroes.
David Bowie on the web
Eric Clapton tunes
As well as a member of bands like Derek & The Dominos, The Yardbirds, and Cream, Eric Clapton has successfully played sessions for more stars than any other guitar player.
His long career earned him three inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
Eric Clapton on the web
Eddie Floyd tunes
Eddie Floyd was signed to Stax as a writer and artist. Here he worked closely with the house band Booker T. & The M.G.’s.
The guitarist of the band, Steve Cropper, helped Eddie pen his signature song Knock On Wood.
Eddie Floyd on the web
Otis Redding tunes
Dubbed the King Of Soul, Otis Redding was an American singer-songwriter who wrote some of the most famous tunes of all time.
His career was tragically cut short only five years after his first studio album was released as he tragically died in a plane crash in 1967.
Otis Redding on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This was a guitar lesson about Knock On Wood chords, by Dan Lundholm. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar by playing tunes, not practicing scales, and studying theory in isolation.
