Chords + Lyrics | Soul Man
Intro
| G | F | Bb | C D |
Verse 1
||: G G7 G | G G7 G :||
Coming to you, on a dusty road, good loving, I got a truckload.
And when you get it, you got something. Don’t worry, ’cause I’m coming.
Chorus 1
| G7 | F | G7 | G7 |
I’m a soul man. I’m a soul man
| G | F | G | C D |
I’m a soul man. I’m a soul man, and that ain’t all.
Verse 2
Got what I got, the hard way, and I make it better, each and every day.
So, honey, no don’t you fret, ’cause you ain’t seen-a, nothing yet.
Chorus 2
I’m a soul man. I’m a soul man
I’m a soul man. I’m a soul man
Verse 3
I was brought up, on a side street, yes mam! I learned how to love, before I could eat.
I was educated, at Woodstock, when I start loving, oh I can’t stop.
Chorus 3
I’m a soul man. I’m a soul man
I’m a soul man. I’m a soul man
Middle 8
| Eb | Bb |
Look, grab the rope and I’ll pull you in.
| C | D7 |
Give you hope and be your only boyfriend.
| Eb11 |
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (yeah!)
Instrumental
| Ab | Gb | B | Db Eb |
Outro
||: Ab Ab7 Ab :||
I’m talking about a soul man,
I’m a soul man, and you’re a soul man.
Soul man (oh lord), soul man.
(I’m a) soul man, (and you are) soul man.
(And you’re a) soul man.
Soul Man Backing Track | Chord Analysis
Above is a live band backing track recorded in the studio—minus the guitar.
We use this track throughout the course not only to play the full tune but also in looped sections so you can refine each part. Combine it with the chord chart below to prepare for a live performance of Soul Man with confidence and precision.
Chord Progression – What’s Going On?
Intro
The intro starts with D-shaped voicings, skipping the second string to give this rhythm part its distinctive flavour:
| G (I) | F (bVIIx) | Bb (bIIIx) | C (IV) D (V) |
These outside-the-key chords (F and Bb) add grit and soul before the verse locks into a static G groove—a welcome sense of tension and release.
Verse
We can notate the verse in two ways. A simplified version might look like:
||: G G7 G | G G7 G :||
But a more precise transcription that mirrors the actual riff would be:
||: G Gb7 G7 G C6/G G :||
Once you’ve seen the TAB (further below), this progression will make even more sense.
Chorus
The chorus closely mirrors the intro, but with subtle rhythmic shifts:
| G7 (I) | F (bVIIx) | G7 | G7 |
| G | F | G | C (IV) D (V) |
Middle 8
The middle 8 changes key entirely, moving up to Ab and starting on the V chord—a moment many bands fumble without a shared chart:
| Eb (IV) | Bb (IIx) | C (IIIx) | D7 (IV) | Eb11 (V) |
That final Eb11 is easy to miss if you’re not listening carefully.
Re-intro
The re-intro follows, now in the new key:
| Ab (I) | Gb (bVIIx) | B (bIIIx) | Db (IV) Eb (V) |
Outro Chorus
In the final chorus, something clever happens—the band plays the chorus progression while the guitar sticks to the verse riff. This layering creates one of Soul Man’s most memorable moments.
Here’s a chord chart:
Soul Man Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
This chord chart captures every section with clear spacing—even in the busy verse. The notated chords will help remind you of the rhythmic riff.
- Download PDF: Soul Man chord chart PDF
- Download iReal Pro: Soul Man iRealPro
Use iRealPro to change the key quickly. The Blues Brothers version, for example, uses E and F. If you’re playing their arrangement, remember that the re-intro repeats.
Below, you’ll find a video of me playing the full tune, along with more details about the verse riff in the course preview.
Soul Man TAB | Course Preview
Soul Man is one of those rare songs where your job is to hold down a single one-bar riff for a long stretch—almost like you’re playing funk, not soul.
This part was famously played by Steve Cropper, and while others have reinterpreted it live, the original riff remains unmatched. Here’s the TAB:
The Blues Brothers version transposes the part to suit E and F, with slight changes:
In the course, you’ll also find TAB for Steve Cropper’s live versions, showing how he adapts the riff across keys like Ab and A.
We break down all sections with TAB and looped practise tracks. You’ll explore key changes across the neck, learning how to visualise D shapes all over the neck.
When the song modulates from G to Ab towards the end, you’ll get a fantastic workout in both rhythm and fretboard knowledge. If you’re playing the Blues Brothers version, you’ll also need to transpose everything down to E and F.
But don’t worry—inside the course, I’ll give you all the tools to play Soul Man your way. Whether you’re following the original, the Blues Brothers version, or crafting your own hybrid, you’ll be ready to deliver it with power and ease.
Here’s a link to the 8 step-by-step guitar lessons: Soul Man – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
A Timeless Classic Reborn
Soul Man is a song first made famous by Sam & Dave in 1967. Written by Isaac Hayes and backed by the legendary Booker T. & the M.G.’s, this track is a true classic.
In 1980, the song reached a new audience when it was featured in the unforgettable film The Blues Brothers. Amazingly, much of the band that played on the original recording also performed in the movie.
It wasn’t by chance that The Blues Brothers chose Soul Man—the duo was famously modelled on Sam & Dave, who, despite their stage chemistry, famously hated each other offstage.
Jake and Elwood didn’t share the same animosity. On the contrary, they were brothers, both on stage and in spirit. If you’ve seen the movie, you know they were also on a mission—from God.
Soul Man Chords: Continue Learning
Soul Man is a great example of how sticking to a one-bar riff for an extended time can be the right approach—especially in the verse.
However, once we reach the chorus and middle eight, things become much more intricate. Can you put it all together in step 8?
Start learning with the full lesson series: Soul Man – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
