If I Fell Chords: How to Play the Beatles Classic on Guitar

The Beatles are one of the most influential and popular bands in the history of music. Their songs have been covered by countless artists and have inspired generations of musicians. One of their songs that showcases their talent for writing catchy melodies and harmonies is “If I Fell”, from their 1964 album “A Hard Day’s Night”.

In this article, we will explore the chords and structure of “If I Fell”, and how you can play it on guitar. We will also look at some of the musical features that make this song so memorable and unique.

The Chords

The Beatles
IF I FELL (Lennon/McCartney)
From: "A Hard Day's Night" (1964)
 
D9  x-5-4-5-5(5) / x-5-4-5-3-0  or (easier) D7sus2  x-x-0-2-1-0
If the D9 is too much for your taste, a regular D7 works well, too.
 
 
[Intro]
     Ebm
If I fell in love with you
          D
Would you promise to be true
    Db      Bbm
And help me understand
            Ebm
'Cause I've been in love before
      D
And I found that love was more
     Em            A
Than just holding hands
 
[Verse 1]
     D    Em  F#m   Fdim7 Em
If I give my  heart to    you
  A
I must be sure
         D  Em  F#m        Em
From the ve-ry  start that you
      A                | D   | Gm A |
Would love me more than her
 
[Verse 2]
     D     Em  F#m     Em7
If I trust in  you, oh please
      A
Don't run and hide
     D    Em  F#m     Em7
If I love you too, oh please
      A
Don't hurt my pride like
 
[Bridge]
D9                               G
her, cause I couldn't stand the pain
    Gm                        D           A7
And I would be sad if our new love was in vain
 
[Verse 3]
     D    Em  F#m      Em7
So I hope you see that I
      A
Would love to love you
D   Em   F#m      Em7
And that she will cry
     A
When she learns we are
 
[Bridge]
 D9                             G
two cause I couldn't stand the pain
    Gm                        D           A7
And I would be sad if our new love was in vain
 
[Verse 3]
     D    Em  F#m      Em7
So I hope you see that I
      A
Would love to love you
D   Em   F#m      Em7
And that she will cry
     A                  D
When she learns we are two
 
[Outro]
     Gm               | D   | Gm  | D
If I fell in love with you

The song is in the key of E flat minor, which is not a very common key for guitar songs. However, you can use a capo on the first fret to make it easier to play. Alternatively, you can transpose the song to a different key, such as D minor or C minor.

The song uses mainly major and minor chords, with some variations and embellishments. Here are the chords used in the song, with their names and fingerings:

The Structure

The song has a simple but effective structure, consisting of an intro, three verses, two bridges, and an outro. The intro is a four-bar section that introduces the main melody and chord progression of the song. The verses are eight-bar sections that follow the same chord progression as the intro, but with different lyrics. The bridges are four-bar sections that contrast with the verses by using different chords and a higher vocal range. The outro is a two-bar section that repeats the last line of the verse and ends on the tonic chord.

Here is the structure of the song, with the chords and lyrics:

[Intro] Ebm If I fell in love with you D Would you promise to be true Db Bbm And help me understand Ebm ‘Cause I’ve been in love before D And I found that love was more Em A Than just holding hands

[Verse 1] D Em F#m Fdim7 Em If I give my heart to you A I must be sure D Em F#m Em From the ve-ry start that you A D Gm A Would love me more than her

[Verse 2] D Em F#m Em7 If I trust in you, oh please A Don’t run and hide D Em F#m Em7 If I love you too, oh please A Don’t hurt my pride like

[Bridge] D9 G her, cause I couldn’t stand the pain Gm D A7 And I would be sad if our new love was in vain

[Verse 3] D Em F#m Em7 So I hope you see that I A Would love to love you D Em F#m Em7 And that she will cry A When she learns we are

[Bridge] D9 G two cause I couldn’t stand the pain Gm D A7 And I would be sad if our new love was in vain

[Verse 3] D Em F#m Em7 So I hope you see that I A Would love to love you D Em F#m Em7 And that she will cry A D When she learns we are two

[Outro] Gm D If I fell in love with you Gm D If I fell in love with you

The Musical Features

The song has some interesting musical features that make it stand out from other songs of its time. Here are some of them:

• The song uses a lot of chromaticism, which means moving by half-steps or semitones. For example, the chord progression Ebm-D-Db-Bbm moves down by half-steps in each chord. This creates a sense of tension and resolution, as well as a smooth voice leading.
• The song also uses some modal interchange, which means borrowing chords from different modes or scales. For example, the chord Em is borrowed from the E flat harmonic minor scale, which gives the song a darker and more melancholic sound. The chord D9 is borrowed from the D mixolydian mode, which gives the song a more jazzy and colorful sound.
• The song has a lot of vocal harmonies, which are sung by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The harmonies are often in thirds or sixths, which create a sweet and rich sound. The harmonies also vary in each section, which adds variety and interest to the song.

Conclusion

“If I Fell” is a beautiful and classic song by the Beatles that showcases their musical genius and creativity. The song has a simple but effective structure, a catchy and memorable melody, and a rich and complex harmony. The song also has some unique and interesting musical features that make it stand out from other songs of its time. If you want to learn how to play this song on guitar, you can use the chords and structure provided in this article, or you can watch some video lessons online. You can also listen to the original recording of the song or some of the cover versions by other artists. Enjoy playing and singing this song, and have fun!