Chords + Lyrics | You’re All I Need To Get By
Intro
| A | B/A | Bm7b5/A | A |
You’re all I need to get by.
Verse 1
||: A | B/A | Bm7b5/A | A :||
(You’re all I need to get by) Like sweet morning dew, I took one look at you, and it was plain to see, you were my destiny.
(You’re all I need to get by) With arms open wide, I threw away my pride, I’ll sacrifice for you, dedicate my life to you.
Bridge 1
| A A/C# | A/E A |
I will go where you lead always there in time of need.
| B7 B7/D# | Bm7b5/F Bm7b5/D |
And when I lose my will, you’ll be there to push me up the hill.
Chorus 1
| A/E (A6) Bm7 | Bm11 |
There’s no, no looking back for us.
| A/E (A6) Bm7 | Bm11 Bm7b5/D |
We got love, sure enough, that’s enough.
| A/E A6 A | Bm7b5/F |
You’re all, you’re all I need, to get by.
Tag
| A | B/A | Bm7b5/A | A |
(You’re all I need to get by) Oh-oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, Tammi, listen.
Verse 2
(You’re all I need to get by) Like an eagle protects his nest, for you, I’ll do my best.
Stand by you like a tree, and dare anybody to try and move me.
(You’re all I need to get by) Darling in you, I found, strength where I was torn down.
Don’t know what’s in store, but together we can open any door.
Bridge 2
Just to do what’s good for you, and inspire you a little higher.
I know you can make a man, out of a soul that didn’t have a goal.
Chorus 2
| A/E (A6) Bm7 | Bm11 |
‘Cause we, we got the right foundation,
| A/E (A6) Bm7 | Bm11 Bm7b5/D |
and with love and determination.
| A/E (A6) | B7 Bm7b5 |
You’re all, you’re all I want to strive for and do a little more.
| A/E (A6) | B7 Bm7b5 |
You’re all, all the joys, under the sun wrapped up into one.
| A/E (A6) | Bm7b5/F | A | Bm7b5/F |
You’re all, you’re all I need. You’re all I need.
| B7 | E7sus4 |
You’re all I need (oh), to get by.
Outro
||: A | B/A | Bm7b5/A | A :||
(You’re all I need to get by) Oh, babe. Oh, babe. Honey, honey, honey, honey, honey, honey, yeah!
(You’re all I need to get by) I need you darling (oh-oh). Oh, I need you (you’re all). All your love (all I need). Oh, oh, oh!
(You’re all I need to get by) I love you darling (oh, baby), all I need (you’re all I need). I need your love (you’re all I want).
(You’re all I need to get by) Oh (oh) all you love now (yeah). Hey, Tammi (oh, yeah) you’re all I need.
You’re All I Need to Get By Chords: Exploring the Rich Harmonic Layers
You’re in for a treat with the chords to You’re All I Need to Get By! Let’s break down each section, starting with the intro, verse, tag, and outro:
| A | B/A | Bm7b5/A | A |
With the bass anchored on A, the movement to B and Bm7b5 adds a rich sense of harmonic tension.
Before we move on, what key are we in? Two major chords a tone apart suggest IV–V, which would place us in E major—meaning A Lydian, since we never actually play an E. However, the appearance of Bm7b5 complicates this. If we were in A major, it would function as IIm7b5, a modal interchange between A and Am.
One thing is certain: these opening chords are not diatonic!
Bridge
The bridge simplifies matters slightly, shifting between A and B in true gospel fashion:
| A A/C# | A/E A |
| B7 B7/D# | Bm7b5/F Bm7b5/D |
Again, this isn’t strictly diatonic. If we call E major the key, it reinforces the A Lydian argument.
That final bar may look daunting, but with the bass moving underneath an unmoving chord shape, it’s easier to play than it appears. So, while You’re All I Need to Get By has harmonically complex chords, they’re surprisingly comfortable under the fingers.
To play it accurately, you’ll need TAB—here’s the link: You’re All I Need To Get By – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Chorus
Here are the first chorus chords:
| A/E (A6) Bm7 | Bm11 |
| A/E (A6) Bm7 | Bm11 Bm7b5/D |
| A/E (A6) | Bm7b5/F |
The Bm7 and Bm11 are new additions, as we’ve only seen B7 and Bm7b5 so far.
The second chorus begins in the same way:
| A/E (A6) Bm7 | Bm11 |
| A/E (A6) Bm7 | Bm11 Bm7b5/D |
| A/E (A6) | B7 Bm7b5 |
| A/E (A6) | B7 Bm7b5 |
| A/E (A6) | Bm7b5/F | A | Bm7b5/F |
| B7 | E7sus4 |
Once again, the magic lies in the slash chords, with Bm7b5/F standing out as the most striking. A top tip for guitarists playing in a band: ignore the bass note and focus solely on the upper chords.
Since we never play a straightforward E major (only E7sus4), we can’t confidently assert the song is in E major—but calling it A Lydian with a few borrowed chords is a fair working theory.
Here’s a chord chart—share it with your bandmates, and you’ll all be playing You’re All I Need to Get By correctly… whether you understand the theory behind it or not!
You’re All I Need To Get By Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Download my chart as a PDF or in the iReal Pro format—essential if this is a first dance and the singer asks last minute to lower it a tone or so. A real lifesaver!
You’re All I Need To Get By TAB | Course Preview
There’s so much to explore in You’re All I Need To Get By’s chords. Learning a few key sections using TAB is essential to see the movements clearly.
Once you’ve done that, it becomes easy to start experimenting with the chords in an improvised way.
As a preview, here’s the bridge. I’m ignoring the bass movement and focusing on shifting the chord shapes to create musical excitement.
The Story Behind Marvin & Tammi’s Biggest Hit
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell had three major hits together: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing, and the song we’re focusing on here—You’re All I Need to Get By.
Released in 1968, a year after Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and two years before Tammi’s tragic passing, it became their biggest hit, reaching #1 in both the U.K. and U.S.
In 1969, as Tammi was too weak to perform, Marvin sang the song with Carla Thomas while Tammi watched from the front row in a wheelchair. Seeing her sing along, Marvin stepped into the audience and finished the song by her side—her final performance. A few months later, at her funeral, he sang it once more in tribute.
Written by Ashford & Simpson—who also provided backing vocals and penned the duo’s other hits—You’re All I Need to Get By features some remarkable chord progressions worth studying.
You’re All I Need To Get By Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: You’re All I Need To Get By (Bryan Adams) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
