Chords + Lyrics | Mr. Big Stuff
Intro
||: Eb | Ab Bb Ab :||
Oh, yeah. Oh.
Chorus 1
||: Eb | Ab Bb Ab :||
Mr. Big Stuff. Who do you think you are?
Mr. Big Stuff. You’re never gonna get my love.
Verse 1
||: Eb | Ab :||
Now because you wear, all those fancy clothes (oh, yeah).
And have a big fine car, oh (ooh) yes, you do now.
Do you think I can afford, to give you my love? (oh, yeah).
| Eb | Ab Bb Ab |
You think you’re higher, than every (ooh) star above.
Chorus 2
Mr. Big Stuff. Who do you think you are?
Mr. Big Stuff. You’re never gonna get my love.
Verse 2
Now I know all the girls, I’ve seen you with.
I know you broke their hearts one after another now, bit by bit.
You made ’em cry, many poor girls cry.
When they try to keep you happy, they just try to keep you satisfied.
Chorus 3
Mr. Big Stuff, tell me, tell me. Who do you think you are?
Mr. Big Stuff. You’re never gonna get my love.
Instrumental
| Cm | F7 | Ab | Bb Ab |
Verse 3
I’d rather give my love to a poor guy that has a love that’s true (oh, yeah).
Than to be fooled around (ooh) and get hurt by you.
‘Cause when I give my love, I want love in return (oh, yeah).
Now I know this is a lesson Mr. Big Stuff (ooh) you haven’t learned.
Outro chorus
||: Eb | Ab Bb Ab :||
Mr. Big Stuff, tell me. Who do you think you are?
Mr. Big Stuff. You’re never gonna get my love.
Mr. Big Stuff. You’re never gonna break my heart.
Mr. Big Stuff. You’re never gonna make me cry.
Mr. Big Stuff, tell me. Just who do you think you are?
Mr. Big Stuff. You’re never gonna get my love.
Mr. Big Stuff. You’re never gonna break my heart.
Mr. Big Stuff. You’re never gonna make me cry.
Mr. Big Stuff, tell me, tell me. Just who do you think you are?
Mr. Big Stuff. You’re never gonna get my love.
Mr. Big Stuff Chords: Unlocking the Groove with Modal Interchange
Apart from being a great tune, Mr. Big Stuff is also very easy to learn—ideal for a song that transitions from radio hit to a staple in working bands’ setlists.
Chorus + Verse
The chorus serves as both the intro and outro, while the verse follows almost the same progression, except for the Bb – Ab chords, which only appear at the end of the final line.
Instrumental
The instrumental section shifts to the relative minor, Cm. However, instead of functioning as chord VI, it acts as II, leading into an F7. This is a common jazz/funk trick, and in Mr. Big Stuff, it plays out like this:
| Cm (II) | F7 (V) | Ab (bVIIx) | Bb (I) Ab |
Here, we see modal interchange at play—Eb moves between Ionian and Lydian. Alternatively, you could think of it as bridging the keys of Eb (chorus, verse) and Bb (instrumental section), which differ by only one note.
I’ve put together TAB to help you play this exactly like the original recording. Check out the lesson here: Mr. Big Stuff – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
When you know know how to exactly play the chords (TAB), a chord chart will help with the song’s structure. Here’s one I made for you.
Mr. Big Stuff Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Mr. Big Stuff chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: Mr. Big Stuff iReal Pro. Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key.
Mr. Big Stuff TAB | Course Preview
In the course, you’ll get TAB for all sections of Mr. Big Stuff, so you can play it using the correct chords, rhythms, and voicings.
As a preview, here’s the part you can use for the intro, chorus, and outro:
Jean Knight’s signature song
Released in 1971 on the Stax label (though Booker T. & The M.G.’s didn’t play on it), Jean Knight’s Mr. Big Stuff became a massive hit, selling two million copies in the U.S. alone.
As her signature song—and only major hit—it has remained a staple of popular culture, kept alive through radio play, commercials, and, most importantly, DJs and soul/funk bands keeping dance floors moving for decades.
You’d think success would lead to more hits, especially with a song that seems so effortlessly cool. If Mr. Big Stuff was so easy, couldn’t she just repeat the formula?
Perhaps the fact that she couldn’t proves just how difficult it is to write a hit—even when it only has a few chords!
Mr. Big Stuff Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Mr. Big Stuff (Jean Knight) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
