A Hard Day's Night — The Beatles

Chords and lyrics for A Hard Day's Night by The Beatles (key of C).

Verse 1

(Lennon/McCartney)
From "A Hard Day's Night" (1964)
EDIT April 2015
Went through the comments section and tried to update this tab using the
corrections there
as it is one of the versions on UG that are visited frequently.
Some of the voicings are really difficult to identify. There are several
guitar tracks,
some of which might use differing voicings (maybe a 12-string, too?). Some
options are
suggested below. Choose whatever sounds good to you. Moreover, there is a
special suggestion
made by the original submitter of this tab. Sounds nice, even though it
might not be
what is played on the Beatles' recording.
EDIT May 2018
Opening chord: Harrison arguably played an Fadd9 here. Playing alone on a
single 6-string guitar,
however, there is no "correct" way to play the opening chord. What is heard
on the Beatles'
recording is a blend of 6- and 12-string guitars, bass and piano(s ?). In
order to recreate the
effect of this multi-layered sound impression, a G7sus4 is often suggested,
which actually
sounds close. But the "a" is missing here. Another option may be Fadd9, but
then the bass plays
"d", so maybe D7sus4 might be a good substitute, too (not enough bottom
end, though, in my opinion).
Experiment for yourself, play together with other guitarists and use
different voicings in order to
create the big "Bang!".
Opening Chord
E-A-D-G-B-e
D7sus4 x-x-0-2-1-3 (actually Fadd9/D)
D7sus4/A x-0-0-0-1-3 or x-0-0-2-1-3 (more bottom end than the
Fadd9 x-x-3-2-1-3 or 1-0-3-2-1-3 or 1-3-3-0-1-1 (on a 12-string
would include
F6add9/A x-0-3-5-3-3
F6add9/C x-3-3-2-3-3
(==> all voicings of Fadd9 or F6add9 miss out on the "d" in the bass,
regular D7sus4)
this voicing
the high f AND g notes)
though)
D-G-D-G-B-e
Fadd9/D 0-0-3-2-1-3
Song
E-A-D-G-B-e
Keep your pinky on the third fret of the high e-string for the first two
for the G, C, and F chords
G 3-x-0-0-3-3
C x-3-2-0-1-3
F x-x-3-2-1-3 or 1-x-3-2-1-3 (actually Fadd9)
lines of the verses
D x-x-0-2-3-2
Bm x-2-4-4-3-2
Em 0-2-2-0-0-0
C6 x-3-2-2-1-0
D7sus4 x-x-0-2-1-3 (actually Fadd9/D)
Dm7 x-x-0-2-1-1 (actually F/D)
Another possibility which gives a special flavour in the verses is G -
This is very easy to play; leave your pinky and ring finger in
G 3-x-0-0-3-3
Cadd9 x-3-2-0-3-3
F6add9 x-x-3-2-3-3
Cadd9 - F6add9.
position.

Intro

[G7sus4/D]

Verse

It's been a [G]hard [C]day's [G]night and I've been [F]working like a [G]dog
It's been a [G]hard [C]day's [G]night, I should be [F]sleeping like a [G]log
But when I [C]get home to you, I find the [D]things that you do, will make me
[G]feel [C]all [G]right

Verse

You know I [G]work [C]all [G]day to get you [F]money to buy you [G]things and
it's [G]worth it just to [C]hear you [G]say, you're gonna [F]give me [G]everything
So why on [C]earth should I moan, cause when I [D]get you alone, you know I'll
[G]feel [C][G]O.K.

Middle 8

When I'm [Bm]home [Em]everything seems to be [Bm]right
When I'm [G]home [Em]feeling you holding me [C6]tight, [D]tight, yeah!

Verse

Solo

| G C | G | F | G |
| G C | G | F | G |
So why on [C]earth should I moan, cause when I [D]get you alone, you know I'll
[G]feel [C][G]O.K.

Middle 8

When I'm [Bm]home [Em]everything seems to be [Bm]right
When I'm [G]home [Em]feeling you holding me [C6]tight, [D]tight, yeah!

Verse

Coda

[C] You know I [G]feel [C]all [G]right
[C] You know I [G]feel [C]all [D7sus4]right[Dm7]
| D7sus4 Dm7 | D7sus4 Dm7 | D7sus4 Dm7 |
(repeat and fade)
X