Chords + Lyrics | Need Your Love So Bad
Intro
| 6/8 A | A | A7 | A7 |
| D | D | D#dim7 | D#dim7 |
| A | F#m | Bm7 | E |
| A | D7 | A | E |
Verse 1
| A | A | A7 | A7 |
Need someone’s hand, to lead me through the night.
| D | D | D#dim7 | D#dim7 |
I need someone’s arms, to hold and squeeze me tight.
| A | F#m | Bm7 | E |
Now when the night begins, I’m at an end.
| A | D7 | A | E7 |
Because I need, your love so bad.
Verse 2
| A | A | A7 | A7 |
I need some lips, to feel next to mine.
| D | D | D#dim7 | D#dim7 |
I need someone to stand up, and tell me when I’m lyin’.
| A | F#m | Bm7 | E |
And when the lights are low, and it’s time to go.
| A | D7 | A | A7 |
That’s when I need, your love so bad.
Bridge
| D | D | D#dim7 | D#dim7 |
So why don’t you give it up, and bring it home to me.
| A | A7 | A | A7 |
Or write it on a piece of paper baby, so it can be read to me.
| B | B7 | B | B7 |
Tell me that you love me, and stop drivin’ me mad.
| E | F | E | E7 |
Ooh because I, I need your love so bad.
Verse 3
| A | A | A7 | A7 |
Need your soft voice, that talked to me at night.
| D | D | D#dim7 | D#dim7 |
I don’t want you to worry, baby. I know we can make everything alright.
| A | F#m | Bm7 | E |
Listen to my plea baby. Bring it to me.
| A | D7 | A | E7 |
Because I need, your love so bad.
Outro
| A | A | A7 | A7 |
| D | D | D#dim7 | D#dim7 |
| A | F#m | Bm7 | E7 |
| A | D7 | A | E7 |
Need Your Love So Bad Chords: Explore the Unique Chord Progressions
Need Your Love So Bad, made famous by Fleetwood Mac and guitarist Peter Green, is played in 6/8 time and features a 16-bar blues built from two distinct chord progressions.
Verse
The first progression covers the intro, verses, and outro. It begins with the typical I – IV movement found in many blues songs.
Things then get interesting with a #IVdim7 chord, which leads us back to I. This is followed by a turnaround using I – VI – II – V. The final four bars return to a classic blues ending: I – IV – I – V.
| A (I) | A | A7 | A7 |
| D (IV) | D | D#dim7 (#IVdim7) | D#dim7 |
| A (I) | F#m (VI) | Bm7 (II) | E7 (V) |
| A (I) | D7 (IV) | A (I) | E7 (V) |
To get ideas for how to comp these chords (there’s no rhythm guitar on the original recording), check out my TAB lesson where I’ve created a rhythm guitar part for every section of the song.
Here’s the link: Need Your Love So Bad – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Bridge
The second progression is also 16 bars long but begins on chord IV and once again includes the #IVdim7. It then moves to four bars on chord I, followed by four bars on chord IIx — a rather unusual choice.
The final four bars resemble the progression used in The Thrill Is Gone, moving from V to bVIx and back to V. Although that song is in a minor key, the structure is strikingly similar, making the comparison worthwhile.
Here’s the full bridge progression:
| D (IV) | D | D#dim7 (#IVdim7) | D#dim7 |
| A (IV) | A7 | A | A7 |
| B (IIx) | B7 | B | B7 |
| E (V) | F (bVIx) | E | E7 |
In the playlist above, you’ll find the original version by Little Willie John, the famous Peter Green rendition with Fleetwood Mac, a duet by Adele and Paul Weller, and a powerful version by Gary Moore.
Here’s a chord chart.
Need Your Love So Bad Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
You can download my chord chart as a PDF or in iReal Pro format, which I highly recommend. The app allows you to easily change the key and even generate backing tracks in all keys, giving you the ability to practise soloing along with them.
The app is especially useful for jazz and jazz/blues progressions like this one. If you don’t use it, the chart is also available as a static PDF.
Need Your Love So Bad TAB | Course Preview
In the course, we first study rhythm parts I’ve created for each section. Start by learning these if you plan to play Need Your Love So Bad in a band and don’t have a Hammond player and string section at hand.
We then work through all the licks Peter Green plays, transcribed note for note. Finally, we analyse his note choices so that, once you’ve learned what he played, you can improvise in the same vein.
As a preview, here’s half of the intro solo — check out how much space Peter Green leaves between the phrases!
The Legendary Peter Green and His Influence on Blues Guitar
Peter Green is one of the most revered U.K. blues guitarists, known for his incredible sense of timing, touch, tone, and phrasing — qualities that set him apart from many of his contemporaries.
His talent was so widely respected that B.B. King famously said: “He has the sweetest tone I’ve ever heard. He was the only one who gave me the cold sweats”.
Green’s reputation as a leading blues guitarist led to him being invited to join John Mayall’s band after Eric Clapton left.
It was a challenging experience. During early performances, fans would shout “We want God! We want God!”, referring to Clapton, who had already achieved near-mythical status among British blues fans.
After this period, Peter Green went on to form Fleetwood Mac, where he wrote and released iconic songs such as Black Magic Woman and Albatross, as well as recording a celebrated cover of Need Your Love So Bad by Little Willie John — the song we’re focusing on in this lesson.
To learn how to fret the chords and master those delicious Peter Green licks, check out the TAB lesson.
Need Your Love So Bad Chords: Continue learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Need Your Love So Bad (Fleetwood Mac) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
