Chords + Lyrics | Piece of My Heart (Janis Joplin)
Intro
| F#m | A B |
| C#m | B | D | B |
| B | B7 |
Well, come on, come on, come on, come on.
Verse 1
| E A | B A |
Didn’t I make you feel like you
| E A | B A |
were the only man? Well, yeah!
| E A | B |
And didn’t I give you nearly everything that a woman possibly can? Honey, you know I did.
Bridge 1
| C#m | B |
(Oh) And each time I tell myself that I, well I think I’ve had enough.
| D | B |
(Oh) But what I’m gonna show you, baby, that a woman can be tough.
| B | B7 |
I want you to come on, come on, come on, come on and.
Chorus 1
| E A | B |
Take it! Take another little piece of my heart now, baby (oh, oh).
| E A | B |
(Break it) Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (oh, oh).
| E A | B A# |
(Have a) Have another little piece of my heart now, baby.
| A | A E/G# F#m E | E A | B A |
You know you got it, if it makes you feel good. Lord, yes indeed.
Verse 2
You’re out on the streets looking good and baby deep down in your heart.
I guess you know that it ain’t right. Never, never, never, never, never.
Never hear me when I cry at night. Babe, and I cry all the time.
Bridge 2
(Oh) But each time I tell myself that I, well I can’t stand the pain
(Oh) But when you hold me in your arms, I’ll sing it once again.
I’ll say come on, come on, come on, come on, yeah.
Chorus 2
Take it! Take another little piece of my heart now, baby (oh, oh).
(Break it) Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah (oh, oh).
(Have a) Have another little piece of my heart now, baby.
| A | A E/G# F#m E |
Well you know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good.
Solo
||: F#m | A B :|| x4
| C#m | B | D | B |
| B | B |
I need you to come on, come on, come on, come on, and.
Chorus 3
Take it! Take another little piece of my heart now, baby (oh, oh).
(Break it) Break another little bit of my heart, now darling, yeah, c’mon now (oh, oh).
(Have a) Have another little piece of my heart now, baby.
| A | 2/4 N.C | 4/4
You know you got it whoah! Take it.
Chorus 4
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby (oh, oh).
(Break it) Break another little bit of my Heart, now darling, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (oh, oh).
(Have a) Have another little piece of my heart now, baby, hey.
You know you got it, child if it makes you feel good.
Outro
| F#m | A B | F#m |
Chords + Lyrics | Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart (Dusty Springfield)
Intro
||: D G | A G :||
Verse 1
| D G | A G | D G | A G |
Didn’t I make you feel, like you were the only man?
| D G | A Bbdim7 |
Didn’t I give you everything a woman possibly can?
Bridge 1
| Bm | A |
(Oh) But with all the love I give you, it’s never enough.
| C | A |
(Ah, oh) Now I’m gonna show you baby, that a woman can be tough.
| A | A |
So (come on, come on, come on, come on, and).
Chorus 1
| D G | A |
(Take it) Take another little piece of my heart, now baby.
| D G | A |
(Break it) Break another little bit of my heart, now honey.
| D G | A Ab |
(Have a) Have another little piece of my heart now, baby.
| G | G D/F# Em D |
You know you’ve got it if it makes you feel good.
Verse 2
Yeah out on the street (you know) and you know deep down in your heart that ain’t right.
And I know you never, never hear me when I cry at night (woah).
Bridge 2
(Ah, oh) I tell myself that I can’t stand the pain.
(Ah, oh) But when you hold me in your arms, I say it again.
So (come on come on, come on, come on and).
Chorus 2
(Take it) Take another little piece of my heart, now baby.
(Break it) Break another little bit of my heart, now honey. You’d better.
(Have a) Have another little piece of my heart, now baby.
You know you’ve got it if it makes you feel good. You’d better.
Chorus 3
||: D G | A :||
(Take it) Take another little bit of my heart, now baby.
(Break it) Break another little bit of my heart honey, now baby. You’d better.
(Have a) Have another little piece of my heart, now baby. You’d better.
(Take it) Take another little bit of my heart now baby.
(Take Another Little) Piece of My Heart Backing Tracks | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find backing tracks to use when learning Piece Of My Heart (Janis) and Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart (Dusty).
I’ve used stem separation to extract the guitar while keeping the drums, bass, keys, horns, and vocals intact.
After studying the chords and TAB, use my backing tracks to prepare for playing this tune with a band.
Chord Progression – What’s Going On?
Let’s investigate the chords in Janis Joplin and Dusty Springfield’s versions — you never know which one you’ll end up playing with a band!
The two recordings differ not only in key but also in arrangement, so make sure your band agrees on which version to use before the gig.
One more detail: to match Janis Joplin’s version, you’ll need to tune up to 444Hz. Dusty’s version sits at standard 440Hz. Use my free online guitar tuner to tune to either pitch.
In the backing tracks, I’ve done this job for you by tuning Janis to 440Hz.
Intro
Here are Janis Joplin’s intro chords in the key of E:
| F#m | A B |
| C#m | B | D | B |
| B | B |
These chords return later during the solo. The first line follows a II – IV – V progression (which is repeated later), while the second line moves through VI – V – bVIIx – V, with D functioning as a bVII chord.
Finally, we land on the V chord as Janis begins singing “…come on…”.
In Dusty Springfield’s version, the intro instead repeats the verse chords twice, like this in the key of D:
||: D G | A G :||
The G chord is played with a slightly different rhythm the second time, but the harmony stays the same.
Verse
Janis Joplin’s verse follows a classic I – IV – V – IV pattern:
||: E A | B A :||
| E A | B |
Dusty Springfield’s version adds harmonic colour by ending the phrase with a diminished 7th chord:
||: D G | A G :||
| D G | A Bbdim7 |
To get TAB for all sections — for both Janis and Dusty’s versions — scroll down further this guitar lessson.
Bridge
In Janis Joplin’s version, the bridge follows a VI – V – bVIIx – V progression:
| C#m | B | D | B | B | B |
Dusty Springfield’s bridge is almost identical, just a tone lower:
| Bm | A | C | A | A | A |
Chorus
Janis’s chorus is more harmonically complex:
| E A | B | E A | B |
| E A | B Bb |
| A | A E/G# F#m E |
After chorus 1, she plays two bars of verse chords. After chorus 2, she skips this and goes straight into the solo. At the end of chorus 3, she omits the turnaround and instead inserts a 2/4 bar. The final chorus leads directly into the outro.
Use the chord chart below — or the chords and lyrics above — to keep track of these structural changes.
Dusty Springfield’s choruses, by contrast, follow the same pattern each time. In the final chorus, the last three chords loop to create a fade-out:
| D G | A | D G | A |
| D G | A Ab |
| G | G D/F# Em D |
Solo
Only Janis’s version features a solo. It mirrors the intro, except the opening phrase repeats four times:
||: F#m | A B :|| x4
| C#m | B | D | B |
| B | B7 |
The outro returns to the intro progression, resolving on F#m.
As you can see by now, there’s plenty of room for confusion if half the band has learned Janis’s version and the other half Dusty’s. The professional guitarist learns both arrangements and adapts to whichever one the band decides to play.
Here are the chord charts — bring both to the gig and ask the band the only sensible question: Which one are we doing?!
Piece of My Heart Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
It’s advisable to download both chord charts in both keys — as you can imagine, playing Janis’s arrangement in Dusty’s key can quickly become confusing!
Here are both as static PDFs:
And here are the iReal Pro files:
Piece of My Heart | TAB (Janis Joplin)
You may want to scroll down and check the Dusty Springfield version first. Janis’s arrangement is full-on, let’s start with the intro.
Intro
This section is challenging. We begin in a Cm shape using an F#m blues scale. Bend up to the first note, then release it and start the pull-off as you bend down — it’s tricky, but crucial.
From here, follow the chords using arpeggios. Visualising the shapes is essential, as this is the only way to memorise them reliably.
Notice how the D chord is played as arpeggios in three shapes: E shape, D shape, and finally A shape. Once you can see these clearly, you’ll avoid hitting wrong notes.
The last three bars feature double stops using B Mixolydian.
Verse
I’ve prepared two ideas for the verse. Both looped, so you can practise and internalise them:
Once you can play both, start blending them and developing your own variations.
Bridge
There are two approaches to the bridge as well:
Again, once familiar, combine and adapt these to fit your style.
Chorus
Two ways to play the chorus are included. Learn both, then experiment with blending and developing your own version:
Here’s the second way:
Take your time with these examples — absorbing them fully will make improvisation and adaptation much easier.
Solo
For the solo, I’ve provided a rhythm part, as there’s already a lot to cover here. The chords follow the same progression as the intro, looping the first two bars four times:
Once you can play all of this TAB confidently, play the complete tune using only a chord chart and the backing tracks. This will help you develop flexibility and adapt your part for live performance.
Next, here’s TAB for Dusty’s version.
Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart | TAB (Dusty Springfield)
Now let’s look at how to play this if your goal is to recreate Dusty’s version. As with many classic recordings, there’s a lot of production on the original, so our job is to find a part that works for a working band.
Intro
The intro is largely piano and bass, but you’ll want to be prepared if the keys player doesn’t show up. Here’s a simple guitar adaptation:
Verse
For the verse, there are two approaches — this will also apply to the bridge and chorus. You can play a sparse part like this:
Or a busier part, adding more movement and rhythmic interest:
Bridge
The bridge can be played with a driving, repetitive rhythm, chopping off the downbeat (indicated with a dot above the stem):
Alternatively, try a more syncopated and adventurous approach. I’ve even added a 6th extension at the end for colour:
Chorus
The chorus also has two options. The first is straightforward and easy to follow:
The second adds more variation. Make sure to snap off the root on the D chord in bars 3 and 5, indicated with a dot above the stem:
Once you can play all of this TAB, try putting the full tune together using the backing tracks with chord chart above. With practice, you may even be able to improvise your own part that works for your band.
Janis Joplin, Dusty Springfield, and the Untold Story Behind Piece of My Heart
Above, you’ve seen the chords, lyrics, analysis, and charts for Piece of My Heart by Janis Joplin (1968), as well as Take Another Little Piece of My Heart by Dusty Springfield (also 1968). Both versions are staples on the working band’s setlist. I’ve left the original out of this section — it only appears in Dusty’s playlist — but it’s worth noting that the song was first released in 1967 by Erma Franklin, Aretha Franklin’s older sister.
The song was (apparently) written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns. I say “apparently” because Bert Berns had a reputation for appropriating songs — most famously, he claimed Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl. Amusingly, Berns first asked Van Morrison to record Piece of My Heart before giving it to Erma Franklin.
Dusty Springfield’s 1968 recording brought the song her signature British blue-eyed soul treatment. Smooth and controlled, Springfield’s version showcased her impeccable phrasing and subtle emotional nuance. While it wasn’t a major commercial hit as a single, it reinforced her reputation as one of Britain’s most accomplished soul singers and remains a highlight of her catalogue.
Janis Joplin’s rendition with Big Brother and the Holding Company, released the same year on Cheap Thrills, transformed the song into a rock classic. Her performance was raw, powerful, and unrestrained, turning Piece of My Heart into an anthem of emotional honesty and female empowerment. Joplin’s single reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped the album reach number one, cementing her as a defining voice of the late 1960s counterculture. Her passionate rasp and explosive delivery gave the lyrics a sense of urgency that resonated deeply with audiences.
The song’s legacy is enduring. Joplin’s version is frequently cited as one of the greatest rock vocal performances of all time, inspiring generations of singers across rock, pop, and soul. Springfield’s recording, meanwhile, highlights her pioneering role in British soul and her influence on female vocalists. Together, these interpretations demonstrate how Piece of My Heart evolved from its gospel roots with Erma Franklin into a versatile, emotionally charged song that continues to captivate musicians and audiences alike.
Piece of My Heart Chords: Continue Learning
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